Adventurer's daughter speaks out - 'HE PUT ALL OUR LIVES IN DANGER'
New Zealand Woman's Weekly|July 10, 2023
Life on board Wavewalker was scary and then she was abandoned
Fleur Guthrie
Adventurer's daughter speaks out - 'HE PUT ALL OUR LIVES IN DANGER'

One morning over breakfast, Suzanne Heywood's Yorkshireman father announced their family would soon be leaving the UK. He wanted to spend the next three years sailing round the world, recreating Captain Cook's third voyage.

But what was pitched to the then-six-year-old as "the adventure of a lifetime" actually became her 12-year nightmare.

After sailing through storms one so brutal that Suzanne's skull was smashed when their boat Wavewalker was overturned- she describes growing up deprived of safety, friendships, schooling and occasionally drinking water.

For months at a time, no one knew where they were. Suzanne was eventually abandoned in New Zealand as a 16-year-old, with her younger brother Jon, while her parents continued sailing in Fiji.

The years of neglect infused deep emotional scars. Now aged 54, the former civil servant has penned her memoir of a jaw-dropping childhood at sea, drawing on detailed diaries she wrote at the time.

As she chats to the Weekly over Zoom from her home in London, Suzanne likens her "traumatic" upbringing to Stockholm syndrome. She didn't really want to admit it to others for decades and made many excuses for her parents, Gordon and Mary Cook.

"I knew that as soon as I started to write my book, I would jeopardise my relationship with my parents," she admits candidly.

"So I put it off. I had a superficial relationship with them, which was based on 'as long as we don't talk about the past and I don't criticise anything', it was fine.

"But I don't consider mine to be a 'victim' story," she points out. "It's a survivor story. Looking back, I think, 'Good on you - you got out!"

Denne historien er fra July 10, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra July 10, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Woman's Weekly.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA NEW ZEALAND WOMAN'S WEEKLYSe alt
The perfect GETAWAY
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

The perfect GETAWAY

From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Message in a BOTTLE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Message in a BOTTLE

Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Empowered & thriving!  PERFECT AT ANY AGE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE

Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE

From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT

The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD

After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART

After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро

It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural

time-read
4 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART

The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB

The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024