It is winter and, with force 11 storms expected, the fishing fleet is safely in harbour, except for two boats. The Ocean Venture's young skipper, John D Buchan, has a point to prove to his dad, and he is ready to sail all the way to the coast of Norway through the teeth of the storm to make it. On the Arcane, 20 miles off the Shetlands, another father and son team, Charlie and Charles McBride, have debts that leave them no choice but to take on the weather. Back in port, Jimmy Buchan faces a gamble of his own, as his trawler Amity has suffered a massive engine failure. Can he get her up and running before his first mate, Kevin, and the rest of the crew jump ship?