Thousand Islands. Derr’s doctors eventually gave the gohe’s the captain of his own vessel—one unlike any other on ahead, and days later the family was river bound. West Grand Traverse Bay. Each summer, starting with that very first sailing trip in his “This is not a boat where you buy a ticket, take a ride,” bassinet, Derr, along with his parents and two sisters, spent six Derr says. “It’s more than that.” weeks living and adventuring together on a 21-foot Sea Ray, leaving their land-locked home in Wyoming for the ThouThe althea was built in the Netherlands in 1963. Desand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River. signed by Frederick “Ted” Hood—famed America’s Cup “Growing up, there were two winner and an internationally herlives—this life in Wyoming where alded yachtsman, sailmaker, yacht we went to school, and summerdesigner and builder—the yacht time where life was on the boat,” has a storied pedigree. Hood origihe says. Their days had a simple nally dubbed the vessel Robin, and Compass Rose Sailing Company rhythm: Wake up, island hop, Derr’s kept all but the name inoffers charter trips on the Althea swim. The weeks were spent voytact—echoing its racing number spring through fall from Traverse City’s aging to Georgian Bay, New York 1060 on pillows and art, and keepDiscovery Pier. The boat is rated for a City, Toronto and Québec City ing its original teak woodwork. maximum of six passengers (plus crew). Guests can spread out on deck using canals and waterways but alHood owned and raced Robin and use the cabin below. ways keeping the Thousand Islands in the 635-mile Newport Beras their home base. muda, 360-mile Marblehead to Sails begin at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. And so went every summer, Halifax and the Southern Ocean on West Grand Traverse Bay. Twountil Derr was in college. He took Racing Conference in the 1960s; or three-hour outings are available (from $390 to $580), or book an a break from the University of winning both the New York Yacht extended or custom sail for a Wyoming then and leaned into Club Astor Cup and the NORC special occasion. adventure, buying a Greyhound in 1963. bus ticket to the last stop on the In the early 1970s, she was sold Water and ice are provided, and route: Key West. He and a friend to an Ohio family that competed guests can bring their own food and beverages aboard (ask about custom hoped to find a maritime job, but in the Lake Huron Mackinac catering, too). Children are welcome; they arrived shortly after a major races and vacationed with her on life jackets are available on board. It’s hurricane had devastated the area Grand Traverse Bay. After retiring up to you if you want to help the crew and instead did relief work for the from racing, she moved to the hoist the sails before enjoying the ride. American Red Cross. But every East Coast for 30 years, until sailtraversecity.com morning, before helping at the coming back home to Traverse shelter or moving supplies, they’d City in 2021. head to the docks to look for a job After years of planning, the on a boat. search for the perfect boat was concluded in a barn in Maine. Persistence landed them both positions as deckhands on “We didn’t want just another boat,” Derr says. “We wanted a the Appledore II, a traditional schooner heading to Maine. classic yacht that would be fast and still comfortable for pasThat experience wasn’t far from mind when Derr later sengers to sail on. One with a story and a pedigree. graduated from business school with a degree in marketing “Because of the races she’s won and her history, Althea is a and finance during the height of the 2008 recession. His collector’s boat,” Derr says, adding, “Hood is one of the most internship with a marketing agency having fallen through, notable sailors of all time.” he was invited to join his friend aboard the Manitou in With a nod from Hood’s family and the support of a Traverse City. partnership with Discovery Center Great Lakes, Derr’s The first mate job led to a promotion as captain. Along dream to charter Althea and continue her storied history the way, he found two more loves—Heather, the woman has become a reality. who’d become his wife, and teaching. Seeing how much he She’s now moored at Discovery Pier, this once-in-a-lifeenjoyed working with students during his time with the time boat that welcomes anyone aboard, whether they’re a Tall Ship, the Inland Seas Education Association and seasoned sailor or just longing to lean back and relax under working part-time as a substitute teacher for Traverse City the snap of the sails. Area Public Schools during the off-season, Heather en“How wild is that?” Derr asks, maneuvering through couraged Derr to get his teaching certificate. the bay’s smooth waters. “Fifty years later, Althea has come Derr’s life now carries a rhythm similar to that of his home.” childhood—school and sailing. During the school year, he Kim Schneider is a long-time travel writer specializing in teaches biology and art at Traverse City Central High Michigan adventures, food and wine. She’s the author of School. Come summer, Derr takes to the water. Only now, “100 Things to Do in Traverse City Before You Die.”
Set Sail
For Althea Captain Brett Derr, sharing a life on the water is deeply personal: “My family was very close-knit, I think partly because we spent a lot of time living on a boat,” Derr says. “I want to give other families the opportunity to experience a taste of that, too.”
Kate Headley is an accomplished photographer living in Harbor Springs—follow her work at @kateheadley and @headleyinharbor.
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