Andy McCurdy, not yet seventeen, describes himself as irresponsible and underachieving. The night before embarking on a Baja sailing voyage, he sees a creepy-looking couple on the dock in San Diego and becomes convinced that he has witnessed the getaway of murdering smugglers. The serenity of sailing in the gorgeous Sea of Cortez and soothing daydreams about his love for his stepsister become clouded by Andy's obsession that he and the two killers will cross paths again. Heart stopping adventures expose him to certain death, but Andy reaches inside himself and discovers his own latent courage and resourcefulness.