Jack and Claire Carpenter realize his life-long dream by selling the family farm and uprooting their four kids to buy the yacht Providence. Sons Gary, Brian and Timmy give it an honest try and daughter Susan decides to take a job in a port. Her place is taken by Wally Hudson, who wanted a lift to Tahiti and proves a spoiled brat, without the sailing experience he claimed. Shortly after sighting whales, they are hit by a whole group and sink, too fast to think of sending a radio message. Their inflatable raft is too small for six people and supplies are only for a day or three. To get 1,000 miles further, where sea traffic is far more likely to find them, Jack designs a sail. Everything proves hard, even the rain they desperately longed for, but the boys show great courage. Only after weeks Susan gets a search started.