Two New England towns. Two women, one a widow who lives with her husband, a ghost, and the other, rich enough to do what she wants when she wants it. Two men. The first a Harvard graduate and a line to the Mayflower, the other, a near to well johnny-come-lately Irishman Both wanting to become the captain of the ship being built. Knocking heads from the beginning, overriding one another, even during privateering actions. Ben Franklin wants prisoners to trade. A new way to win a battle wins the day, The ending is not what one would expect in a sea story, with ghosts, widows, and adventure.