Ryan's Commander

by Johanna Ryan Guy

The Ryan’s Commander capsized off Spillars Cove, near Bonavista, on September 19, 2004. In the tragic wreck, two brothers were lost: Dave and Joe “June” Ryan. A federal report concluded that vessel design was one of the factors causing the capsizing. The family of the Ryan brothers recently filed suit against the federal government and the makers of the vessel, arguing its design was unsafe and untrustworthy. This book is Johanna Ryan Guy’s tribute, both to her brothers and to the family that still mourns their loss.

171 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2008

Reviews

[Jerry Cranford · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ryan's Commander: The Boat That Should Not Have Sailed (Flanker Press) is a book that you simply can't put down." -- The Newfoundland Herald

"This story of the capsizing of the Ryan's Commander - and the two brothers who died as a result - is told with an honesty that can only come from someone personally affected by the tragedy." -- Downhome

"[Johanna Ryan Guy] involves the entire Ryan family in an emotionally rendered narrative, detailing their actions and feelings before, during and after the event. The account of the actual loss is clearly detailed as the survivors recalled the sinking and their rescue." -- The Northern Mariner

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because it was written by a relative of two of the victims in a maritime incident that the Transportation Safety Board investigated. I bought it for our library, so that we could see the investigation from the point of view of the family, and thought I should read it as well.