All in the same boat : An American family's adventures on a voyage around the world in the yacht Phoenix

The crew of the ketch Phoenix is introduced at a lively party after its triumphant passage through the Panama Canal. Among them is seven‑year‑old Jessica, who may be the first little girl to attempt a circumnavigation, her brother Ted, a teenage navigator, Nick Mikami, a Japanese yachtsman, Barbara Reynolds, a seasoned sailing partner, and their father Dr. Earle Reynolds, the skipper who has gathered this unlikely team. Their banter and pride set a warm, almost familial tone for a voyage that promises both camaraderie and challenge.

The narrative then rewinds to the moment the newly built yacht slipped from its cradle on the Inland Sea of Japan, under the watchful eyes of a Shinto priest and the shipbuilder Yotsuda‑san. The author reflects on the thin line between dreaming and doing, as the family readies itself for months of training, provisioning, and endless horizon‑chasing. From that solemn launch, the story follows their early preparations, the crisp May sun over Miya Jima, and the anticipation that fuels a daring attempt to sail around the world together.