This is an idea that I'm developing, but I need help.
There is a ship, the Wanderer that sails through space. It isn't a rocket ship, or a space ship, in fact, it's a sailing ship. It's the size of a frigate, but can hold thousands.
What I need help with is why it wanders, why it holds so many, and a conflict to face it. I don't really need how it does it.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Well...
-The captain could be running from something
-It could be some sort of vacation trip

I can't think of anything that isn't vague or cliche at the moment. Do you have any more background information?

Only they don't remember why they're there, they have celestial powder cannons, and they use solar winds.

Hmm... I'll think on it.

Me too. I'm seeking help on another site too. So far, I've gotten your ideas, the idea that it carries the survivors of a dead world, a prison ship, and something like Treasure Planet.

I like the dead world idea. Unfortunately I don't have anything helpful to add at the moment.

This reminds me a bit of Castaways of the Flying Dutchman by Brian Jacques. The first part of the book explains why The Flying Dutchmen and her ghostly crew wander the seas eternally - it's the captain's punishment for cursing God. I'm not sure how much of that is Jacques's imagination and how much is real myth, but it may serve as inspiration for you.

I agree that the "dead world" idea is a definite possibility. Perhaps, when it first set sail, it was a cruise, trading, or exploration ship - something mundane. But by the time the ship returned to home, their world had been destroyed. Now they have no place to port, so they wander... so long that a new generation has arisen on the ship, one that doesn't even remember where they came from...

On that vein, you might be able to draw some allegory (or inspiration) from Israel's wandering in the wilderness. Because the spies made the people afraid to go into the Promise Land, God cursed them to wander for 40 years until all the males, 21 years old and upward, were dead. The only people that escaped this rule were Joshua and Caleb, because of their righteous stand. The new generation would inherit the Promise Land. (Num. 13-14)

Other random ideas for problems... The passengers could be slowly dying; or perhaps the population is outgrowing the space. Food supplies could be running low; something could go wrong with their regenerate food/water/etc. supply (plants on board died, etc.). Epidemic. The ship is deteriorating. Or someone from the outside docks, comes aboard, and tosses the confined society into chaos with their foreign ignorance.

This could easily take on a sci-fi or hybrid flair if you wanted it to.

All of that and I forgot to say... sounds like an intriguing premise! If that's all I knew about the book (that it involved a seaship that wandered the stars), I would pick it up and read further.

The idea of a ship sailing through space makes me think of Treasure Planet (I love the concept). There are a lot of things you can do with such an idea, unfortunately, I can't think of any right now.

I love this idea! I'll come back if I have any ideas!

Thanks everyone. I think I will go with the dead world idea and such. I also know the main character's name, Quintillion Solarus.

cool name The dead world idea could be good. They could also be refugees fleeing a galactic war that has decimated their planet or planets, and they are trying to find a new home, as the war continues where they came from. Totally cool idea all in all. I would read it.

It is a good idea, thanks.

Is the ship covered? How can they breathe?

It is not covered, and the whole idea is impossible, so why worry about the details?

I love stories like that.

Me too.

I think I'll have a galaxy wide-conflict, similar to Star Wars, except with sailing ships instead of starships.

3-D sailing ship battles. That would be fun!

You totally have to go with Steampunk on this idea.

Not necessarily. Have you read "The Navigator" trilogy by Eoin Mcnamee? It has parts very similar to this.
Yes, 3D sailing ship battles would be awesome, except the cannons aren't on the bottom.

Let me know when you get around to writing this.

I'll let you know.

There is such a thing as solar winds. And it is actually being looked at as a means of propulsion for space craft using large parachute like sails.

One thing that could allow breathing on such a craft would be a light energy shield originating from generators set beside the railing acting as a canopy. which does not extend far enough to enshroud the sails... If I sound like I'm ranting just let me know.

Actually, that sounds like a good idea. Thanks.