How does a family maintain psychological and physical equilibrium while stranded in the Pacific Ocean for thirty-eight days after their vessel is destroyed by killer whales? Dougal Robertson, a retired dairy farmer and experienced sailor, documents the harrowing ordeal of his family following the sinking of their schooner, the Lucette. The narrative serves as a detailed account of survival against extreme environmental conditions, utilizing the family's collective ingenuity to secure food, water, and shelter while adrift in a small inflatable raft and a fiberglass dinghy.

Experts and readers alike regard this work as a definitive account of maritime survival, frequently cited for its clinical precision and lack of sensationalism. The prose is noted for its straightforward, matter-of-fact tone, which highlights the practical realities of endurance in a hostile environment.