Inspired by his own experiences as a young man, Gates presents five attempts to navigate the treacherous Humboldt Bay bar at night. They are skillfully written dramatizations of seamen's accounts of real incidents taken from oral and written recollections of events between 1933 and 1982. Included are powerful black and white illustrations by JoEmma Eanni.

       The first tale relates Gates' own bay tragedy and the death of a close friend. The second tells of the Coast Guard cutter Avoyel's near fatal attempt to rescue a stricken salmon troller.  This compelling tale is smoothly interspersed with recollections of the skipper's own wartime experiences.

       Story number three tells of towboat "Thor's" 1970 experience guiding a pulp ship out of the crowded and fog-bound bay. Next comes the 1972 Christmas Eve tale of the crab fishing boat, Lady Fame's, four survivors after being assaulted by a monstrous wave. Finally comes the story of the yacht, "Koala II" whose taped radio calls with the Coast Guard tell of its fraught attempt to enter the stormy bay.           

       At the end of the book, find a map and appendixes about past area ship wrecks, and dangerous variables such as fog, currents and tides.  But more than the illuminating facts, this book is notable for its beautiful evocative language describing scudding fog, starlit skies, playful dolphins and the mournful tolling of fog horns. A good all around read.