The author, Gordon Cook, and his wife, Mary, undertook the sea journey to duplicate the round-the-world voyage made 200 years earlier by Captain James Cook. They had dreamt of sailing in the wake of the famous explorer for a long time, and for the past 16 years, they had spent their leisure time honing their seafaring skills in British waters. The journey was an opportunity for them to fulfil their dream and embark on an adventurous expedition, following the path of the renowned explorer and experiencing the challenges of sailing the world's oceans.