Whew! Here I am at the top of Bora Bora, an extinct volcano in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, which is said to be the most beautiful island in the world. To explain how I got here, I have written a 20,000-word account of the voyage, in four parts.

Part I: Sailing to the South Seas

Part II: Cook Islands Turnaround

Part III: A Change of Plan

Part IV: Heading Home