Whale Sinks Their Yacht – Couple Survives 118 Days Adrift on a Raft
In 1973, a British couple's dream voyage ended when a whale rammed their boat. They drifted 1,500 miles across the Pacific on a tiny raft, eating turtles and birds to live. An epic true tale of endurance and unbreakable love.
TrueStoryX Team (based on historical accounts and recent NPR coverage)
5/8/20241 min read
In 1973, Maurice and Maralyn Bailey left England on their yacht Auralyn, chasing the dream of sailing to New Zealand. Everything changed 300 miles from the Galapagos: a massive sperm whale rammed their boat, sinking it in minutes. They scrambled onto an inflatable life raft and dinghy with minimal supplies — a compass, some food, rainwater collector.
For 118 days (often called "117 Days Adrift"), they drifted 1,500 miles across the Pacific. They collected rainwater, caught seabirds, turtles, and fish using safety pins as hooks. Storms battered them, sharks circled, sores formed from constant wetness, and malnutrition set in. Seven ships passed without seeing their failed flares or signals.
They played cards at first, read a salvaged book, and supported each other through despair. Maralyn's positivity kept hope alive. Finally, on June 30, 1973, a South Korean fishing boat spotted them. Rescued emaciated but alive, they wrote a book about it — and their marriage emerged even stronger.
A timeless true story of survival, love, and the sea's raw power.
Fonte: Wikipedia (Maurice and Maralyn Bailey), NPR (2025 interview on "A Marriage at Sea"), book "117 Days Adrift". More: NPR article