All Hands on Deck

In the late 1990s, Hollywood needed a ship—and found itself with a problem. The Rose, a full-scale replica of an eighteenth-century warship, was sitting in Newport, Rhode Island. Filming for Master and Commander was set thousands of miles away on the West Coast. The only solution: sail it there.

In All Hands on Deck, Will Sofrin takes readers aboard that unlikely journey, joining a crew of thirty misfits tasked with delivering a historic tall ship across two oceans and through some of the most treacherous waters on earth. What begins as a job quickly becomes something far more demanding—and far more dangerous.

Facing hurricane-force storms, equipment failures, and a ship few people knew how to operate, the crew is forced to relearn the skills of another era while navigating the realities of the modern world. Along the way, personality clashes, shifting alliances, and the pressures of constant risk test not only their seamanship, but their ability to work—and survive—together.

Blending immersive storytelling with rich maritime detail, Sofrin brings to life both the physical experience of sailing a tall ship and the human drama that unfolds onboard. The result is a vivid, accessible account of adventure, resilience, and what it takes to see a seemingly impossible mission through.

“Thrilling. This is an adventure story of the highest order.” —Nathaniel Philbrick, author of the National Book Award–winning In the Heart of the Sea and Mayflower