There may be no other sailing ship in North America that has touched the lives of so many people during 80-plus years of existence as HMCS "Oriole." The design of famed MIT marine architect George Owen, the pride of original owner George Gooderham, commodore of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, the steadfast training ship of the Royal Canadian Navy for more than five decades, and ultimately "the people's boat" in her home harbours of Esquimalt and Victoria, BC, HMCS "Oriole" continues to add to her legacy with every new nautical adventure. Her fascinating history is captured by author and avid mariner Shirley Hewett in a narrative based on extensive interviews with "Oriole"'s past captains and crew. Hewett listened to their stories, shared their insights and sailed the New Zealand leg of a South Pacific good-will voyage in 1998 aboard the "Oriole" as part of an international crew. "She is a ship that manufactures dreams," Hewett said. "Mine became to tell her many stories."