Captain Lou Boudreau, who was raised aboard schooners from the age of one, spent decades commanding classic charter vessels, and later regaled readers with his nautical tales in books and Soundings articles, passed away last month in his native Nova Scotia. He was 73.
At six months of age, Boudreau’s parents took him aboard their schooner Yankee, which they ran as a charter vessel in the Bras d’or Lakes of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and soon after whisked him off to to the Caribbean aboard another schooner they had purchased. In the West Indies, the family pioneered the area’s first charter sailing operations, raised their growing family, and ran their charter vessels from a St. Lucia base.
Completely bitten by the nautical life, Boudreau spent decades at sea, sailing aboard some of the most famous schooners in the world, gaining his captain’s license and running classic sail and power vessels. In 1996, Boudreau “swallowed the anchor,” moved back to Nova Scotia, began a career as an author, published several books, and for a number of years regaled Soundings readers with his maritime tales.
“There are few people in the world who have lived a saltier life than Captain Lou,” said former Soundings editor Mary South, who brought Boudreau’s writing to the magazine in 2017. “His authentic voice was loved by Soundings readers—and he was a heck of a nice guy, too.”
Boudreau’s passing was announced by his family. He is survived by his wife Sarah-Jayne and their two children, Jason and Hannah, who shared the following obituary:
It is with the deepest sadness for us to announce that Robert Louis (Lou) Boudreau, sailor, yacht captain and author, passed away on February 22, 2025. Born on May 12th, 1951, in Baddeck, N.S., From a very young age Lou joined his parents, Walter and Terry, aboard the famous schooner Yankee. His father owned and sailed the schooner in the beautiful Bras d’Or Lakes of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.
When Lou was a year old, the Boudreaus left Canada and voyaged south to warmer climes. Sailing out of Miami, Florida, they eventually ran their charter cruises in the West Indies. Lou and his four siblings spent their early childhood on the island of St. Lucia, where he became fluent in the local patois language. His father had a succession of four beautiful schooners, each unique and each with a storied past. Lou grew up sailing the Caribbean aboard these vessels in the charter trade.
In 1957, the Boudreau family embarked on a 14,000-mile-deep sea voyage on the Caribee, visiting many interesting ports in the Mediterranean and North Africa. The adventure under sail made a deep and lasting impression on young Lou. In 1968, at age 16, Lou joined the crew of the schooner Ramona on a voyage to Nova Scotia, and following this, left school to follow the sea permanently. The young seafarer’s apprenticeship saw him on some well-known sailing vessels including the schooners Bluenose II, Ramona and the Le Voyageur. After sitting for his master’s papers, he ran the ketch Atlanta, the ketch Harbinger, the classic power yacht Electra, the brig Unicorn and the ketch, Shere Khan.
Over the years, Captain Lou’s experiences were many: storms, fire at sea and adventures both above and below the sea. He loved fishing, he could fish anytime, anywhere; it gave him complete joy. He was also an avid spearfisherman, often providing the table with everything from grouper to lobster. His love of fishing and the sea would be passed onto his son Jason (his “fishing buddy”), and they would share many years of enjoyment together fishing for mackerel, pollock and cod off the shores of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.
Swallowing the anchor in 1996 he returned to Canada with S-J, where he devoted his time to writing. His first book “The Man Who Loved Schooners” was published in 2000. A fictional novel “Fandango’s Gold” was published in 2006. “Where The Trade Winds Blow”, which chronicles his own life, was published in 2012 and his latest book “Under the Trade Wind Sky” was published in 2023. In 2002 and 2004, Lou and S-J welcomed their two children, Jason and Hannah, into their lives.
Lou wrote beautifully of his life’s adventures, and his passion of writing and storytelling has been passed on to his daughter, Hannah. She is as inspired by Lou’s writing as she is in awe of the stories and adventures encapsulated within his writing. Lou’s stories will never die or fade, as they are a brilliant light in Hannah’s life that she has and always will hold very close to her heart.
Lou was a loving and devoted husband to his wife of nearly 30 years, Sarah-Jayne (S-J), with whom he shared countless adventures and extraordinary memories. Lou was a loving and wonderful father to his two children, Jason and Hannah, and his legacy will live on for them indefinitely. Lou had a close and loving relationship with his four siblings; Janeen, Peter, Brian and Michelle, and was a loving and devoted son to Walter and Terry Boudreau.
He was a protector, a best friend, a leader, and someone to look up to for everyone who knew him. Lou was the kind of person who spoke to those of a passionate and strong mind and who inspired all. He possessed all these qualities and more, and he reflected these amazing qualities to those around him. He was an inspiring figure in every way of the world, and will be dearly missed by his wife, his children, all his family and friends, as well as by the souls who got lost in the words of his writing; many of whom he may not have met, but shared a connection with through the power his writing had over the people who were immersed within his stories.
Lou will be terribly missed by those who knew him, and his memory will ring in the white sails that fly over the sea, and the green flash of light that breaks when the sun goes down.
A quote from “The Man Who Loved Schooners”:
“There resides in everyone the spirit of adventure, that small flame that inspires life’s quest. All that is required is the kindling and then it will burn brightly. The first sips of freedom’s heavy brew are intoxicating and will pull you ever onwards, as it has me. Drink freely of it and you will not be disappointed. May fair winds fill your sails, and the lee shore never find you.”
Captain Lou Boudreau
Chester, Nova Scotia, 1998.
