Life in the Finger Lakes Magazine, Book Look 2007
Finger Lakes Reads by Laurel C. Wemett
(Copyright © 2006 Life in the Finger Lakes)

Gone With the Breeze
Larry Dickens
Sulind Hill Press
$21.95
www.LarryDickens.com

Many residents of this region know the ups and downs of The Spirit of Ontario 1, the high-speed ferry that traveled Lake Ontario between Rochester and Toronto beginning in June 2004. Accounts of the vessel, nicknamed “The Breeze,” appeared in the media, even prior to its arrival in Rochester. People who never boarded The Breeze for a passage followed closely the events surrounding this operation. Now, nearly a year after the last run in December of 2005, when plans for the twin-hulled, aluminum craft’s future remain uncertain, a new book chronicles its short history from a fresh perspective.

Author Larry Dickens was a chief mate during the two summers that the vessel operated. His admiration for the huge Australian-built catamaran is evident. While he makes some attempts to evaluate why the service ended, his book focuses on the contributions made by the ship’s crew.

Dickens, an author of several books, says he managed to record daily happenings at night in his Rochester apartment, keeping track of the day’s highlights and low points, if any. He filled in the details through crew member interviews, newspaper articles and his own recollections.

Gone With the Breeze: A True Story About the Spirit of Ontario 1 is a satisfying behind-the-scenes detailed account of both the excitement and frustration surrounding this bold venture. In the author’s words, “One thing I observed about the fast ferry that was vastly different when compared to conventional ships was there was rarely a normal day.” The book is more of a memoir than a hard look at the management decisions. Even so, it may contribute to a better understanding of the issues surrounding the ship’s short-lived service.