Portsmouth, 1794. Under thundery skies and in lashing rain, 17-year-old midshipman Horatio Hornblower takes the first tentative steps of his naval career, but a feud with a shipmate causes complications.

Ioan Gruffudd
as Midshipman Horatio Hornblower

Robert Lindsay
as Captain Sir Edward Pellew

Dorian Healy
as Midshipman Jack Simpson

Michael Byrne
as Captain Keene

Robert Bathurst
as Lieutenant Eccleston

Duncan Bell
as Midshipman Clayton

Paul Copley
as Matthews

Sean Gilder
as Styles

Simon Sherlock
as Oldroyd

Chris Barnes
as Finch