In the episode Heroes of the Sea, we are transported back to 1851, a time when the lure of gold in California spurs a demand for faster ships. The narrative begins in the bustling shipyard of Donald McKay, a renowned shipbuilder, who is preparing the Flying Cloud for its maiden voyage. Accompanied by the esteemed poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, McKay reflects on the beauty and craftsmanship of the ship, which has already been sold to a group eager to capitalize on the gold rush. The stakes are high as the ship's owners expect the Flying Cloud to make the journey to San Francisco in just a hundred days.