Clancy, the lead character is a successful Bahamian marine lawyer who decided to retire at home to his own marina on the island of New Providence after years of a successful practice in New York. Taylor and his younger brother Tim, age twelve, arrive in the Bahamas to live at Clancy's marina after losing their parents in a Southern U.S. hurricane. Salty is Tim's seal. Clancy has adopted the two and is giving Tim a home and Taylor a chance to work on preparations for a career in marine law.