The Beam is a love story, centring round an old beam in Devon, the owner of the house containing the beam, and a woman marine researcher. Then, after a dramatic incident while together at sea, they finally set off to sail around the world... The beam in the house acts as a trigger for several other beams of various times and places, all linking the couple together. Beyond the Beam follows on directly from the earlier novel and explores the ongoing relationship of Hal and Amanda on their journey around the world in their junk rigged ketch "Kwan Yin." Amanda at last discovers the name of the old man who has haunted her visions and whom she now believes is the spirit of Hal and the Elizabethan sea captain.