This memoir investigates the personal and physical challenges of becoming the first woman to sail solo across the Atlantic Ocean non-stop. The author, Nicolette Milnes Walker, documents her decision to leave her career as a psychologist to undertake this grueling maritime endeavor. She provides a detailed account of the preparation, the isolation of the open sea, and the psychological fortitude required to navigate the Atlantic alone. The narrative serves as both a technical log of her voyage and a reflection on the human capacity for endurance in extreme solitude.

The text provides a candid, grounded perspective on the realities of solo long-distance sailing during the early 1970s. Its focus on the intersection of psychological preparation and technical maritime skill makes it a significant historical account for those interested in the evolution of solo ocean voyaging.