It was one of those things that seemed like such a good idea at the time. A few years ago, I needed an adventure to bust my life out of the rut it had slipped into, and going to Maine to be a crew member on a sailing schooner sounded like it would do just that. But an adventure wouldn't be an adventure if everything went as planned. There is no way that I could have know what would happen to me on those cold northern waters. Even now, so much of it doesn't seem real. This is a tall tale, filled with terrible storms and vicious beast, crushed hopes and joyful triumph. So grab a good drink and kick off your shoes. You are in for a wild ride.