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1-Page Summary of The Perfect Storm
Overall Summary
The Perfect Storm is a 1997 nonfiction book by Sebastian Junger, who writes for numerous magazines, including Outside, American Heritage, and Men’s Journal. He has lived most of his life on the Massachusetts coast. In late September of 1991, the swordfishing boat Andrea Gail departs the town of Gloucester with six men aboard to go fishing for a month. Soon after they leave port in their ship named “Andrea Gail”, captain Billy Tyne radios to other ships in the fleet one line: “She’s coming on boys and she’s coming on strong”. The fishermen are soon hit by an immense storm that will be known as “The Storm of the Century” because it causes so much destruction along its path. It can also be referred to simply as “The Perfect Storm” because meteorologists observe how this storm was formed from several different storms that happened at once and made each other stronger until they became one huge destructive force moving across North America towards New England where it wreaks havoc on everything in its path including people like those six fishermen missing from Gloucester harbor with no chance left but death or rescue.
In the documentary ”The Perfect Storm”, Sebastian Junger interviews people about what happened to the Andrea Gail. He talks to Coast Guard members, family members of those who died, and other captains from fishing boats. He traces back swordfishing in the Atlantic Ocean and how dangerous it is for young men. He describes Gloucester’s history as a fishing town, where many young men are drawn by money into working on ships on their own.
He also traces the history of storms, such as hurricanes and typhoons. He studies waves and wind, which can be dangerous for ships at sea. He studies how bodies react in cold water, what it’s like to be on a ship during total darkness, and the dangers of drowning. He lists accounts of famous ships that sank in bad weather or were never heard from again.
In the book The Perfect Storm, Junger describes the heroic rescues that occurred during a storm. He recounts how one ship was so battered by the waves and wind that it had to be abandoned. Another ship from Japan broke down in the middle of the storm, leaving its crew stranded on board. A helicopter tried to rescue a Japanese sailor who was alone on his boat but crashed into the sea. Some people were rescued while others died trying to save others or themselves from drowning in high seas.
Junger describes the experience of being in a storm at sea. Everyone who is out there knows they might not make it back alive, but they do it anyway because that’s what their job is. At the funeral for those lost on the Andrea Gail, Junger talks about how we should remember all fishermen from all time.
Chapter: “George’s Bank, 1896”
In 1896, a fishing ship found a message in a bottle in George’s Bank. The note asked that whomever found it should share the fate of the crew with the larger world.
Chapter: “Gloucester, Mass., 1991”
In Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1991, the Andrea Gail is preparing to set out to sea for a month-long swordfishing trip. Bobby Shatford wakes up with his girlfriend Chris at the Crow’s Nest, a bar and flophouse across from the waterfront. He has debts that he needs to pay off so he agrees to go fishing despite not wanting it. Other fishermen are also reluctant because of their previous experiences but they still go around town buying supplies for their trip.
The town of Gloucester, Massachusetts is devoted to fishing. The people have been doing it for centuries and are very good at it. In the 1650s, three-man crews were running up the coast to fish for codfish. Nowadays, many New Englanders depend on fishing because they make their livelihood from these ocean waters. Junger relates small histories of fishing including how dangerous it can be and how many lives have been lost over time due to storms or accidents while out at sea. Supplies are loaded onto the Andrea Gail in late afternoon before heading out into those same dangerous waters that killed so many men before them who went out without adequate safety precautions.
