Peter Weir is an amazing director, and many of his films feature on my all-time favourite list - From Picnic at Hanging Rock to Witness, The Truman Show, and one or two others. Also, on an "Age of Sail" note, I assume you've seen Roger Donaldson's 1984 take on The Bounty (starring Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson)? A much underrated film in my view.