This is a book of many voyages.

There is the meandering trail that leads to the right boat for crossing an ocean. There is the preparation - stalled in a sweltering American boatyard while arguments about equipment and finance combine with the narrowing of the hurricane window. There is the crossing itself which starts with the wrong weather, broken boat parts, torn sails, serious leaks and a very seasick crew as Scarlet gets blown off course in unkind seas.

Male and female monologues form the internal voyages. The skipper's thoughts range from the challenges of fitting a...