The Polly Page Yacht Club

In Short

The Polly Page Yacht Club follows a group of seven close-knit boarding school friends who band together to spend a summer holiday on a rugged island off the coast of Maine. Under the gentle guidance of an affectionate retired admiral, the girls charter a cottage, establish a cooperative camp, learn to handle catboats, and immerse themselves in coastal life. As they master navigation, ocean safety, and local ecology, they grow in self-reliance and community spirit, culminating in a local regatta. It endures as an engaging, warm-hearted depiction of female camaraderie, youth autonomy, and outdoor adventure.

The Story

The story begins at Calvert Hall as the school year draws to a close. Seven schoolmates—led by the imaginative and resourceful Polly Page, founder of the "Hungry Six Club"—are eager to spend their summer vacation together rather than scattering to their respective homes. With the enthusiastic blessing of Polly's grandfather, a distinguished retired Rear-Admiral, the girls concoct a plan to establish a "yacht club" and cooperative camp on Lost Island, a rustic piece of land near the Maine coast.

Traveling north by steamship alongside the Admiral and their beloved housekeeper, Aunty Welcome, the girls arrive at their summer paradise. What begins as a novel holiday quickly becomes an education in seamanship, practical living, and maritime safety. Guided by local life-saver Captain Carey, his daughter Nancy, and his son Tom, the girls undergo rigorous life-saving drills, learn how to swim in open water, and practice managing small catboats through unpredictable coastal winds. Between their nautical lessons, they spend long days harvesting shellfish, exploring nearby coves, and forming connections with local residents, including a visiting Washington naturalist, Dr. Penrhyn Smith.

Excitement turns to real testing when the girls face the unpredictable dangers of the sea. During a sudden misadventure in the shipping channel, Polly demonstrates remarkable presence of mind and plucky seamanship by guiding a panicked club member out of the path of an oncoming passenger steamer, earning the admiration of the local maritime community.

As the summer reaches its climax, the girls join forces with neighboring youth from the Orienta Yacht Club to organize and participate in a seasonal regatta. The competitive races put their months of practical training and sportsmanship to the test. In a triumphant and heartwarming finish, it is their local friend Nancy Carey who pilot her boat, the Pirate, across the finish line to claim the coveted Junior Cup, celebrated warmly by Polly and her companions. When autumn approaches, the girls pack up their camp, bid a fond farewell to the island and its coastal community, and return home with newfound maturity, enduring friendships, and cherished memories.

How It Unfolds

A summer plan takes shape Following their commencement exercises, Polly Page gathers her close circle of friends to propose a joint summer venture. With the approval and financial advice of her grandfather, the retired Admiral, the girls form a cooperative club to share expenses and plan an expedition to a remote island off the Maine coast.

Setting sail for Lost Island The group travels northward aboard a steamship, enjoying a luxurious taste of life on the water before arriving at their rugged destination. Once settled at "The Knob" on Lost Island, they organize their housekeeping with the aid of Aunty Welcome and begin exploring their new coastal home.

Lessons in seamanship and survival Under the instruction of Captain Carey and his daughter Nancy, the girls undertake rigorous training in open-water swimming, boat handling, and emergency first aid. They learn to respect the ocean's unpredictable nature and master the practical mechanics of sailing catboats.

Crises and coastal discoveries During a day on the water, a club member loses her head in a busy channel, forcing Polly to execute a brave, skillful rescue in the presence of an oncoming steamship. Meanwhile, the girls forage for marine life, host beach bonfires, and build ties with visiting naturalists and local families.

The regatta and farewell The summer culminates in a spirited regatta alongside the Orienta Yacht Club, testing the girls' nautical skills in a series of competitive races. After celebrating Nancy Carey's victory in the Junior Cup, the girls pack their belongings and bid an emotional goodbye to the island community.

The People

• Polly Page: The optimistic, natural leader of the group and founder of the club. She wants an adventurous, independent summer with her friends, faces the challenges of navigating real open waters, and emerges as a capable, cool-headed sailor.
• Rear-Admiral Page: Polly's straight-backed, affectionate grandfather. He wants to support the girls' growth and outdoor education while keeping them safe, offering steady wisdom without micromanaging their camp.
• Ruth Brooks: A thoughtful, studious member of the club. She wants to explore the scientific and artistic sides of the coast, designing uniforms and teaching nature lessons, growing deeper in her appreciation for the sea.
• Jane Daphne "Crullers" Adams: The easygoing, food-loving friend whose anxieties often overtake her. She wants to enjoy camp comforts, faces a terrifying moment of panic in the shipping channel, and learns the importance of composure under pressure.
• Nancy Carey: The modest, skilled daughter of the local life-saver. She wants to share her lifelong knowledge of the coast, initially feeling isolated, but earns a central place in the club and ultimately wins the regatta.
• Aunty Welcome: The devoted, firm-minded housekeeper who travels with the girls. She wants to keep her young charges well-fed and well-behaved, using her culinary talents to maintain order and comfort.

In Its Own Voice

"I declare it’s enough to spoil us for the island camp. Who would want to bother over sails and rudders, and jibs and booms, and things, when you can manage the whole ship this way, just by touching an electric button."

Polly marvels at the ease of steamship travel before reaching their rugged island camp.

"Don’t scream and get excited. That’s the first and last rule I want to give you... Keep cool, and get right down to business."

Captain Carey delivers a stern life-saving lesson to the girls on the beach.

"Well, I’m thinking there ain’t anything that happens under the sun you can call useless."

The Captain offers placid comfort when discussing the unpredictable perils of a life spent by the sea.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book explores the quiet transition from childhood dependence to young adult self-reliance. Beyond the cheerful surface of a summer holiday, the narrative investigates how physical capability, practical skills, and cooperative living build genuine confidence in young women. It contrasts the artificial rigidities of formal schooling and high society with the leveling, honest demands of nature, where ocean currents care nothing for social status. The story emphasizes that true competence requires both individual courage and a willingness to pull together as a team, celebrating sportsmanship over cutthroat ambition and cross-class friendship over social exclusivity.

Why Read It Today

The Polly Page Yacht Club offers modern readers a delightful, nostalgic window into early twentieth-century youth culture, outdoor recreation, and period domestic life. Readers who enjoy classic girls' adventure fiction, vintage maritime settings, and stories of wholesome ensemble camaraderie will find much to charm them in these pages. The narrative carries a light, buoyant momentum, rich with evocative descriptions of coastal Maine, sizzling campfire meals, and the simple thrill of catching a sea breeze.

While the story is accessible and engaging, modern audiences should be prepared for period-specific elements. The text reflects early 1910s social attitudes, and the dialogue includes rendered Southern and regional African American dialects—particularly in the speech of Aunty Welcome—which modern readers may find dated or uncomfortable. Additionally, the plot moves at a leisurely, episodic pace characteristic of juvenile series fiction from the era. Nevertheless, the book's sincere celebration of female agency, outdoor mastery, and steadfast loyalty gives it a lasting warmth that easily carries the reader along.