Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World around Cape Horn is taken from the novel "Desolation Island", although the "Acheron" replaced the Dutch 74-gun warship "Waakzaamheid", the "Surprise" replaced the "Leopard", and in the book it is Aubrey who is being pursued around the Cape of Good Hope. The episode in which Aubrey deceives the enemy by means of a raft bearing lanterns is taken from "Master and Commander", and the episode in which Maturin directs the surgery on himself, while gritting his teeth in pain, to remove a bullet is taken from "HMS Surprise". Other incidents in the film come from other books in O'Brian's series.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World fog bank to evade pursuit. Aubrey's officers tell him that "Surprise" is no match for "Acheron", and that they should abandon the chase. Aubrey points out that the "Acheron" must not be allowed to plunder the British whaling fleet. He orders the "Surprise" refitted at sea, rather than returning to port for repairs. Shortly afterwards, "Acheron" again ambushes "Surprise", but Aubrey slips away in the night by using a decoy raft and ship's lamps. Following the privateer south, "Surprise" rounds Cape Horn and heads to the Galapagos Islands, where Aubrey is convinced that "Acheron" will prey on Britain's whaling fleet.