Momentum Lost: Endurance and Survival at Sea

On a crisp May morning, 220 miles east of the Chesapeake Bay in the Atlantic Ocean, crew members of an oil tanker investigate a distant object. They recover a life raft and two people - one dead, the other barely alive - and a backpack that provides the sole clue to unraveling the mystery behind their discovery.

Months earlier, Nelson Sharpe and his fianc嶪, Quinney, had signed up to be part of a crew of four on a 1200-mile sailboat delivery. Nelson set out determined to improve his maritime competency by overcoming his fear of sailing at night and in stormy weather. Mechanical malfunctions plagued their departure. They then missed a critical weather window and eventually found themselves on a collision course with a colossal Canadian weather front.

As the days passed, Nelson's confidence faltered. He lost the captain's respect and faced persistent bullying from a crew member who disregarded boundaries with Quinney. Having contended with high seas, draining aloneness, debilitating seasickness, and nose-to-nose confrontations - the crew was forced to come together to battle a powerful storm.