117 Days Adrift

Maurice and Maralyn Bailey wrote a book about an incredible adventure at sea, but most of all they proved that as a team, humans can face the worst and adapt to the most hostile environment. Sure, few of us would have had the physical and moral strength to spend six months on a leaking live raft drifting out into the vast Pacific, without any hope to be seen or found one day. But the Baileys showed us that it is possible. After several months, when they "had become part of the sea", both were convinced that they could have lived on that way forever, they didn't expect anything from the outside world anymore. Their story teaches us a lesson about humans, our unbelievable resources and our capacity to adapt - as a team. For those who think that +200 pages about drifting in a 2 m2 live raft might become monotonous, be assured that you'll enjoy every page!

Took this book on a flight over to Belgium and could not put it down! You can share in this poor guys misery and picture his plight as though you were there with him. A great read, that makes you want to stay on dry land.

Actually the Bailey's were adrift for 119 days as is explained in the preface. Their small sailboat was holed near the Galapagos Islands by an angry whale during an up-to-then happy voyage. In fewer than 45 minutes their boat sank, but they were fortunate to have a good life raft and dinghy. They were also able to gather, as their boat was sinking, some supplies and odds and ends which eventually helped to save their lives. The sea provided most of their food and the skies water, both in abundance; they were able to catch turtles by hand and fish with safety pins made into fish hooks, and gather rain water in jugs. The Baileys were able to survive and take advantage of the gifts of nature because they did not panic, they did not despair, even though seven ships passed within one mile of their raft before the eighth stopped to save them. The Bailey's story is inspiring because it demonstrates clearly and distinctly the importance of determination, care, and reason in the struggle to survive. Most boaters will never be in the situation that the Baileys were in, but their example is a lesson for us all in our mundane daily battles against the elements that would weaken and destroy us. The book also contains interesting observations about marine nature and human psychology under stress. This is not a literary masterpiece but it is a fascinating story told simply and straightforwardly with little drama or embellishment. The Baileys do not try to present themselves as heroes or fools--just humans caught in an awful bind that they must solve in order to survive. I also strongly recommend Five Against the Sea by Ron Arias. This is another true tale of survival on a small boat adrift in the Pacific.

I've read this book a couple of times. An amazing tale of not only how they servived physically but mentally.

I read this book in one sitting; it's quite a gripping experience to re-live the experience as the Bailey's hold out for an unparalleled 118 days in a rubber dinghy and raft in the middle of the Pacific. Will few supplies and slowly failing equipment, they keep improvising and somehow mentally hold it together long enough for the 8th (!) passing ship to finally spot them after almost 4 months adrift.The only criticisms I have of this book are that they leave a few questions unanswered. Such as, did they not have a radio?! (Perhaps not standard in 1973?)