Preface: A fraud enters the world of writing. [Sample]

Illegal: Starting out on a long, illegal flight to deliver my sold airplane to its new owner near Seattle. [Sample]

Knockout: My soaring instructor picked the wrong time and place to show off to a beginning student. [Sample]

Compound: A review of April Meier's early history and a current flight to her compound in Ramona. [Sample]

Swiftsure: A sailboat race out the Strait of Juan de Fuca is far less interesting than the return delivery. [Sample]

Props: Early inklings of solipsism. [Sample]

April: The the art and joy of pure sailing, removed by the fury of racing. [Sample]

Disclaimer: Reasons for and against flying with me. [Sample]

Opening Day: A diatribe on The Club's biggest annual party. [Sample]

Paradise: Paradise to some, hell to others. [Sample]

Never Homeless: A vast selection of neglected boats provide food, shelter and a little romance. [Sample]

Who's Watching: Using sixties technology to cross the open ocean of the Cataliina Channel. [Sample]

Nobody Home: Dealing with passengers proved more difficult than dealing with a storm. [Sample]

Secular Seagulls: She believes her god is preventing her from landing an airplane. [Sample]

Any Runway: A forced landing over a big, full-service airport leads to existential questions. [Sample]

171: The next day, easy landings and too much money. [Sample]

Everything: Everyone wants everything right now. [Sample]

The Castle: April gets a "better" offer. [Sample]

Harvey's: A writing sanctuary in a Monterey mansion. [Sample]

Hero: Effortless heroism. [Sample]

Offshore Odor: Crossing the Pacific on a brand new boat, though horribly designed. [Sample]

Molokai: Falling overboard in the Molokai Channel. [Sample]

Insomnia: Elusive sleep, at home or on the water. [Sample]

Ulysses: Flying north to Half Moon Bay, a recollection of an encounter with one of my flight instructors. [Sample]

2225 Miles: Odd people I sailed with on the other five Transpac races.

Transpac 2: The one that ruined all the others. [Sample]

Transpac 3: Pampered boys at sea. [Sample]

Transpac 4: Misplaced hardware salesman at sea. [Sample]

Transpac 5: Psychological battles with an owner. [Sample]

Transpac 6: A child in a man-suit ruins the outcome. [Sample]

The Tight Ass: The worst design for ejecting shit off a boat. [Sample]

Emileanne: Flying and windsurfing, common interests that lead to a unique relationship. [Sample]

Alia: From a crushing domestic life to adventure sailing and then to the idyllic setting of Valley View Acres. [Sample]

Violation: Flying to and from nuptials. [Sample]

Halo: Swept into the current of a chaotic wedding. [Sample]

Musical Genitalia: A cynic's eye view of two more weddings. [Sample]

107: The final flight and one, last, impromptu wedding. [Sample]

The Donovan Group: Suckered too long toward visions of gold.

0. Alone: Alone, adrift and lost in the Pacific. [Sample]

1. Valise: Recession generated fear at The Dump. [Sample]

2. Dave: The hapless businessman. [Sample]

3. Butts: The offices don't match the reputation. [Sample]

4. The French: Our lunch meeting reveals an opportunity. [Sample]

5. Bonus: Snooping through The Dump's data. [Sample]

6. Suffocating: My impatience grows. [Sample]

7. Mirror: Distracted by a typical harbor party. [Sample]

8. Leslie: Describing Donovan to a friend in San Francisco. [Sample]

9. Hoarse: Put off again. [Sample]

10. Maelstrom: Even the bartender gets in the way. [Sample]

11. Expletives: Screaming at no one. [Sample]

12. Seneca: Stiffed again, I find my way to San Francisco. [Sample]

13. Rummager: Finding Donovan's yacht at the marina. [Sample]

14. N word: Donovan shows his true colors. [Sample]

15. Tilde: Donovan goes for an unexpected swim. [Sample]

16. Dollar Six: Donovan erupts again. [Sample]

17. Deflated: Sending Donovan on his way. [Sample]

18. Email: Donovan writes a check. [Sample]

19. Blind: History repeats. [Sample]

Vanished: April Meier. [Sample]