In the Summer of 1988 Libby Purves and her husband Paul Heiney set sail in their Gaff Cutter Grace O'Malley with children Nicholas, aged 5 and Rose, aged 3. They sailed the 1,700 miles round mainland Britain and this is the account of the voyage. To mark the tenth anniverary of the journey the author has added a frank postscript on the long-term effects of the adventure on family life and relationships.