Review by Murray Gray

On Plastic Bag Patrol by Andrew Fagan, Illustrated by Jeff Burnett

The irrepressible Andrew Fagan has blown me out of the water again. We know him as a musician, poet, broadcaster and sailor. He is also an active Dad to two boys and has woven all these familiars into a delectable story about kids in boats. He can also sell you the boat.

The plot! Let's go back to the first times – 'Land of the Saggimau'. It is many months sailing to the east of the 'Land of the Big Humans'. To the northeast lie the 'Sin Bin Isles'; a few weeks sailing into a prevailing wind and so not easy to get to. Waiting in a protected bay on the east coast of Saggimau are the Tiny Triplets – Whangarei, Whaketane and Phellington – anchored in Port Perfect. They are waiting for the wind to blow them over the curve of the Earth to far distant seas where highly prized Giant Plastic Bags can be found. Huge sea serpents and foul-mouthed enemies lie in wait for the Sailing Boats of Saggimau. 'Of all the boats in Port Perfect that morning one of the most striking was Davilon The Morocat, with two masts and a set of beautiful blue and white sails.'

Will the voyage be successful? And so the story unfolds - - -

Like all great kids books the everyday hides a moral – here Fagan is commenting on the nightmare of plastic lurking in our waters - but even more apposite is his last word.'Never mind the danger- it was worth it... for the sailing'. Arthur Ransome would have approved.

But wait there's more! Being a handy sort of a bloke with his hands (as sailors tend to be), and an artist at heart, Andrew has built a kit-set version of Davilon the Morocat that can be easily assembled by any kid from 7 to 70 or so. It stands about 700mm to masthead, about the same from bowsprit to stern and is a Ketch Rigged Staysail Cutter carrying 5 sails. The hull is designed to sail, is fitted with a keel and carries a silent sailor at the helm. The ship comes with marine grade components, UV resistant nylon ripstop sails, stainless steel fittings and a balanced and weighted keel. Recommended sailing locations include ponds, lagoons,sheltered bays and swimming pools. It is a thing of beauty and can be viewed online or at Gone West Books in Titirangi. It is made to comply with NZ, US and EC standards for kids 6 and over.

The creative and intellectual energy that has been put into this project is brilliant. Fagan's Assembly and Sailing Instructions are a model of clarity and the story provides a continuing and charming relationship with the boat, the adventures and the characters.

See it sail on www.saggimau.com.