[1] When Jack Robinson (James Keach) gets a new job in Australia, he decides to take his wife Anna (Jane Seymour), sons Shane (John Mallory Asher) and Todd (Blake Bashoff) and daughter Elisabeth 'Lizzy' (Jamie Renée Smith) by sailing a yacht from Hong Kong to Sydney.

The first part of the journey goes smoothly and the family is enchanted by the beauty of the sea (except for Anna who is violently ill).

It turns out that Sheldon is the leader of a band of modern day pirates who are using Jack and his family to smuggle a cache of money and jewels.

However, a storm causes them to run into a reef and they find themselves shipwrecked and marooned on a deserted island Salvaging parts of the boat, the Robinsons learn survival skills and build a shelter.

Shane also discovers Francoise (Yumi Iwama), a French-speaking Asian girl who is also living on the island.