This is a fairly short piece (either a novelette or a novella, I'm not entirely sure) and it is I think unintentionally hilarious. It's basically the story of the worst sea voyage ever, where everything that can possibly go wrong for the 20 year old narrator and the rest of the hapless crew does go wrong. The phrase "ridiculous troubles" is used and it is painfully accurate - it seems like every page has a new disaster crammed on in there. I think perhaps I'm meant to look with admiration at the adventurous spirit and fortitude of the protagonist, and I suppose I do, but it's a look that comes through sniggering.