A Ship at Sea is a celebration of ocean travel before the age of steamships, an era in which sailors did battle with high winds and storm-tossed seas while harnessing the power of wind and sails. The story begins with the joyous sendoff of a ship as it embarks upon a voyage abroad. Optimism and joy abound as the ship encounters smooth seas and favorable winds, but that soon fades as conditions grow worse. The ship soon encounters a furious storm, personified by the Dies Irae chant, and hope seems lost as the ship is swallowed by monstrous waves. In the calm after the storm, lookouts on shore are peering anxiously into the gloom for a sign of the ship, fearing it has sunk to the depths of the sea. But they hear a ringing bell, first faintly and then more strongly, and as the once-lost ship comes into view they begin celebrating its return.

-JW