Mike Lucas wants to know why he's being sent to live with his grandparents. There's some big secret that no one's telling him. At least Poppa is teaching him and his mate Hone to sail. But then Mike learns the reason for the secrecy: his parents are working with the Team New Zealand boat builders for the 1995 America's Cup challenge. And then he finds out that the whole family is going to San Diego! Everyone is wearing their lucky red socks and excitement is feverish ...can Black Magic bring home the Cup?