When I was 18, I shipped out on a freighter headed to Australia on a journey that changed my life. I was naive to the unpredictable subculture I was about to experience. I encountered life-threatening violence, a "don't mess with me" captain, hidden drugs, oceans of booze, cargo larceny, prostitution, and a hunt to uncover the pinnacle of trophy-sized boobs for a seafarer friend in search of them. I was one of fifty seven crew members, the youngest by far, and it was my buccaneer moment of a lifetime; facing obstacles, personal risk, lost love, and surviving my only merchant voyage with a great deal of luck. I got off the ship in Tahiti in the spring of 1968 filled with memorable vignettes of my exploits to share. So "Raise Your Anchor" and ship out with me on my voyage to the other side of the world.