Dave Roper is a regular columnist for Points East. Next to sailing, telling and writing stories is Dave’s favorite pastime. His most recent book, Watching for Mermaids was a three-time Boston Globe bestseller www.watchingformermaids.net. His writing has been published in eighteen languages. Dave has been a yacht delivery skipper, captain of a 135’ Mississippi River stern wheel cruise ship, and life-long cruiser along the coast of Maine aboard his 31’ Independence sloop, Elsa Marie. Dave is the founder of A-Script, a career advisory and resume writing firm in Marblehead, MA. davidroper00@gmail.com
Spring 2023 By David Roper It could be his last night on earth. But twenty-seven year old Sam Martin doesn’t know that yet. It’s 9:35 pm. Saturday, January 5, 2004. It’s 12 degrees Fahrenheit, and the wind is gusty and southwest. Sam is sitting on his usual stool in theRead More
Winter 2023 By David Roper For Points East In my files this winter, I came across this invitation from nearly twenty years ago, sent to ‘middle-aged sailing men’ who are now, in 2023, old sailing men: As a Middle-Aged Sailing Man Known to be a Competent Bullshitter You are HerebyRead More
October/November 2022 By David Roper As you can see from the black and white photo here of your Poppy, I have been watching much longer than you, for more than sixty years, in fact. Sailors know it is important to always keep a watchful eye, to look forward as bestRead More
September 2022 By David Roper This is a continuation from the August issue of an excerpt from Dave’s upcoming book “The Ghosts of Gadus Island” August 1985 Artifacts – Gadus Island, Maine “What about cucumber guy?” Sophie asked, after Cleo joined her at the top of the wharf. “Should weRead More
August 2022 By David Roper This is a continuation from the July issue of an excerpt from Dave’s upcoming book “The Ghosts of Gadus Island” August 1985 Fog, Gadus Island After a breakfast of corned beef hash and eggs, Sophie climbed a couple steps on the ladder and poked herRead More
This is a continuation from the June issue of an excerpt from Dave’s upcoming book, The Ghosts of Gadus Island. July 2022 By David Roper August 1985 Fog, Gadus Island Cleo awoke to find their world embraced by a blurry soft white and edgeless cocoon of fog. Without sitting up,Read More
This is a continuation of Dave’s piece in the January/February 2022 issue, an excerpt from his novel (retitled), “The Ghosts of Gadus Island.” June 2022 By David Roper …She turned to her teenaged daughter Sophie, who was now leaning forward over the cabin trunk, anxiously scanning the horizon for theRead More
Back when I was 17, I took my first bible to sea. Oh, not that Bible. But a yellow paperback one. I figured it was maybe my best resource as I set off solo on my greatly modified ‘round the world adventure aboard my $2500, 23’ A.R. True Rocket sloop.Read More
January/February 2022 By David Roper These are the first published opening pages of Dave Roper’s new book, “Odin’s Island,” inspired by a true story. Odin’s Island – 1985 It had gotten cool, and the wind had started to increase and turn northeast, and this gave Cleo concern. She locked theRead More
