Dare the Wind: The Record-breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud by Tracey Fern, Illustrations by Emily Arnold McCully


Dare the Wind: The Record-breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud by Tracey Fern, with watercolor illustrations by Emily Arnold McCully, tells the inspiring true story of Eleanor “Ellen” Prentiss Creesy, the first female navigator to chart and guide a clipper ship around Cape Horn. In 1851, Ellen and her husband sailed the Flying Cloud from New York to San Francisco in just 89 days, setting a record that stood for more than a century.

Ellen’s love of the sea, her skill in mathematics and navigation, and her determination to trust both science and instinct make this a powerful teaching tool across multiple disciplines.

Curriculum Connections

Social Studies / History

  • Maritime History: Explores the Gold Rush era, clipper ships, and global trade in the mid-19th century.

  • Women’s History: Highlights Ellen Prentiss Creesy’s groundbreaking role in navigation, making connections to women breaking barriers in STEM fields today.

  • Geography: Students can trace the Flying Cloud’s journey around Cape Horn on a world map.

English Language Arts

  • Biography: Helps students analyze how nonfiction picture books bring historical figures to life.

  • Themes: Determination, courage, and daring to break boundaries provide opportunities for thematic study.

  • Writing: Students can write diary entries as though they were sailors on the Flying Cloud or passengers chasing Gold Rush dreams.

Science  

  • Navigation & Astronomy: Ellen used charts, mathematics, and the stars to plot her course, an entry point into studying navigation, astronomy, and the science of sailing.

  • Meteorology & Oceanography: The voyage highlights wind patterns, ocean currents, and weather systems.

  • Simple Machines / Engineering: Students can learn about the mechanics of sailing ships and how sails, masts, and rudders work together.

Discussion Questions

Social Studies

  1. What role did clipper ships like the Flying Cloud play in the Gold Rush and global trade?

  2. How did Ellen Prentiss Creesy’s achievements challenge gender expectations of her time?

  3. Why was the Flying Cloud’s record-setting voyage significant for 19th-century America?

English Language Arts

  1. How does the author use narrative nonfiction to make Ellen’s story exciting and inspiring?

  2. What do the illustrations reveal about the challenges of the voyage?

  3. What themes of courage and determination do you see in Ellen’s story?

Science

  1. How did sailors use the stars, sun, and charts for navigation before modern technology?

  2. Why are wind patterns and ocean currents important for sailing ships?

  3. How does science, math, weather, and astronomy help explain the success of the Flying Cloud’s voyage?

Closing Thoughts

Dare the Wind is more than a maritime adventure, it’s a celebration of science, determination, and breaking barriers. For middle and high school students, Ellen Prentiss Creesy’s story provides a lens to study history, navigation, and the power of daring to dream beyond expectations. Her record-breaking voyage continues to inspire learners to combine knowledge, courage, and resilience to chart their own courses.

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