In 1882 the 'Rowland Evans', owned by Captain John Evans of Borth, was abandoned in mysterious circumstances off Bardsey Island. The book describes what led the captain to leave the ship and lose his master's licence, and paints a picture of his life, his ships and the village of Borth and its heritage. 44 photographs.

• Part I – The Author’s Story
  • Preface: The bells chime out
  • Introduction: The sands of time – my memories of Borth
• Part II – The Captain’s Life
  • Chapter 1: That portrait of the captain and his wife
  • Chapter 2: Saxatile – the captain’s house
  • Chapter 3: The family treasures
  • Chapter 4: Captain John Evans’ early life
  • Chapter 5: The captain’s children
  • Chapter 6: Borth – a village of master mariners
  • Chapter 7: The medicine chest
  • Chapter 8: Rattling good yarns
  • Chapter 9: The boy in the next desk
• Part III – The Captain’s Ship, the Rowland Evans
  • Chapter 10: Building the Rowland Evans
  • Chapter 11: The ship’s destinations
  • Chapter 12: The ship’s register
  • Chapter 13: A life on the ocean wave
  • Chapter 14: Crews of the Rowland Evans
  • Chapter 15: Mice and cockroaches ate my log book!
  • Chapter 16: The demon drink
  • Chapter 17: The Rowland Evans’ last voyage
  • Chapter 18: Antwerp
• Part IV – The Final Disgrace
  • Chapter 19: Read all about it!
  • Chapter 20: Further Surprises
  • Chapter 21: Living with disgrace
• Praise Song to Cardigan Bay and its Master Mariners
• Appendix
• Images