In this fast-paced and rollicking book, author Maxwell Taylor Kennedy takes readers on a wild ride as he relates the harrowing voyage to deliver his boat, Valkyrien, a 90-foot dilapidated wooden schooner, from San Francisco to Washington, DC. From day one, Kennedy and his skeleton crew face almost insurmountable odds and personal danger in their quest to make the crossing. Rich in nautical detail and humor, Kennedy recounts his adventure—its pleasures and perils—as he encounters never-ending technical problems and a hilarious cast of characters. As everything goes wrong and trouble and losses mount, Kennedy must rely on instinct and a lifetime of sailing experience to endure. He is steered by the love of his family, his respect for the sea, and his admiration for those who dare to venture far from shore.