The ships of this book evoke none of the usual romantic images of ships and yet may be the noblest of all. Invariably painted a gaudy red, no other ships spent more time at sea yet sailed fewer miles, their crews compelled to scan the same water and stretch of coastline for the bulk of their working lives. The life of a lightshipman in a hurricane was a sleepless nightmare of holding on, body braced against every combination of rolling and pitching, with tons of water burying the ship.

This enthralling book describes 18 factual adventures from many countries including America, Denmark, Ireland, Canada, England, Holland, Scotland, Australia and Belgium giving vivid accounts of life aboard and the many hazards and disasters that occurred.

'... not only an informative history of a maritime heritage spanning 250 years, but also a gripping account of the true and often tragic stories that were part of the harsh life on board the lightships ... in-depth research coupled with [the author's] style of writing puts this book into the category of "unputdownable" whether you have an interest in lightships or not.' The Orcadian

'Bob MacAlindin has done a masterful job of weaving all this diverse material into a fascinating whole. You'll enjoy this book, learn a lot from it, and be glad to have it available to re-read and for reference.' The Lightkeeper, Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society

'There have ... been many books produced about lighthouses. Few, however, tell the often more dramatic and interesting stories of lightships. ...This book is one such and it is a gem. ... lightships have had their day, but what a day it was. This book brings them brilliantly to life'. Ausmarine Ships and Shipping