The Shards begin an eventful season of cruising aboard their new sailboat with a shake-down cruise from England to Madeira where they arrive late in the season in time for Christmas celebrations on the waterfront. Next stop is Las Palmas in the Canary Islands were they prepare for the boat's first transatlantic passage and are joined by British sailing friends, Wayne and Angie. This episode is high seas adventure as Paul and Sheryl and their crew sail the new boat across the Atlantic Ocean. During the 3-week passage, they celebrate New Years at sea, face good weather and bad and deal with the isolation of being away from land before concluding their voyage in Antigua in the Caribbean.