When we bought Aquatania, her life raft was expired and we purchased another. To decommission the old one, we took it out to a field (we were on the hard) and yanked the line, and RAN while it self-inflated. Eye-opening sitting inside a kiddie pool with a flimsy parachute roof thinking, “Yeah, this’ll save me. I’d survive. I could live in here on the open ocean’s waves for 3 or 4 months.” NOT!!
A fellow cruiser this summer was talking about this decades old survival-at-sea story about a dude who did just that for 76 days straight. I knew I had to read it – A) because I’m devouring survival memoirs at the moment (especially anything to do with sea/hurricanes) as research for potential comps for my IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE memoir (though this wouldn’t work for me due to its age); and B) because I need to know any and all tips and tricks how to survive worst-case scenarios from someone who’s been there/done that.
But at the same time, I was terrified of reading it, lest my brain learn yet another way to circumnavigate the drain of scary what-ifs while living this life in total exposure. To the elements, that is. We’re not one of those ‘clothing optional’ cruising couples (though they’re out there…). However, in the end I’m so glad I did as I was treated to a riveting read that proves how resilient and clever we can be when we are pushed to it. Plus, now I know how to make a still for purifying water should our reverse osmosis watermaker ever fail. Bonus!
Here’s my Goodreads review:
Adrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea by Steven Callahan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This harrowing story shows the tenuous thread between bliss and terror for those of us who live on the water. Written with unexpectedly lyrical prose dripping with meaningful insights, ADRIFT will have you questioning how far could you go if the worst happened? As climate change alters the way we interact with nature’s most challenging moments, Steven Callahan demonstrates how even best-laid plans can be thwarted in an instant. A sober reminder for all of us to up the ante with storm/fire/flood preparations and invest in the health of our planet as an investment in our own future.