Most of the action occurs in this kind of middle section where they are encountering vessels. And sometimes when they go ashore, people get into trouble. Jack should always be at sea like he is not meant to not meant for land.
Flog the jib and shiver me timbers, it's time to set sail with the first of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin novels Master and Commander. It's equal parts ship jargon, ship action, and shipmen (aka sailors) pondering themes of isolation and authority. Plus, we get to the bottom of who exactly is the master and who is the commander.