Ian Church is no newcomer to things nautical. Born in Devonport in 1941, he grew up in Port Chalmers. His lather served in both the Royal and the New Zealand Navy, and was at other times trawler master, seaman and foreman rigger of the U.S.S. Co. Ian Church was educated at Otago Boys' High School and Otago University, from which he graduated with honours in history in 1963. Since then he has taught at schools in Palmerston, Milton and Patea, where he is currently Head of the English Department. He has had two other books published: Dairy Enterprise (1976) and Little Ships of Patea (1977).