Bill Gilkerson has combined his expert knowledge of maritime history and old sailing vessels and his insight as a student of Buddhism to produce a fascinating exploration of humanity in all its guises. Part spiritual allegory and part maritime adventure, Ultimate Voyage is the story of five boyhood friends who undertake the seafaring journey of their lives. Trained in seamanship since they were eight, these five grow up to build their own boat, setting off on to discover an alternate route over uncharted seas to the Southern Continent and the Western Isles. Along the way they meet pirates, shamans, the corrupt denizens of an imperial kingdom, and a passionate tropical goddess. Yet each man also encounters the uncharted territory of his own true nature as he plays out a deeper spiritual drama with his friends, the people they meet, and the elements of wind, earth, fire-and above all, water.