Table of Contents SET ADRIFT SURVIVAL SKILLS TRIALS AT SEA MORE ABOUT STEVE CALLAHAN GLOSSARY TO LEARN MORE INDEX 4 10 16 22 23 24 24 Red text identifies historical quotes
SET ADRIFT It is February 4 1982 Steve Callahan is aboard his sloop the Napoleon Solo as it sails west Even though the race didn’t work out I’m glad to be back at sea Steve has recently finished a transatlantic trip from Rhode Island to England From there he’d taken part in the Mini Transat race to the Caribbean island of Antigua But bad weather damaged the Napoleon Solo Steve was forced to drop out of the race near Spain for repairs After four weeks of repairs and a long journey to the Canary Islands Steve is finally setting off across the Atlantic Ocean He hopes to make it to the Caribbean before February 25 Everything’s tied down and in shipshape Now all I can do is rest 4 The sea is rough but Steve isn’t worried He’s been sailing for many years A boat architect he designed the Napoleon Solo himself With the boat secured he heads below deck to sleep
Steve sleeps for a while until Boom a sound like an explosion forces him out of bed Steve finds that the cabin of the Napoleon Solo is filling with water Steve knows that he must act fast He tries to untie his emergency bag But the water is too rough He can’t hold his breath for long and he must leave the bag behind 5
