True tale of survival, solitude, strength

In June 1973, British couple Maurice and Maralyn Bailey set off across the Pacific in pursuit of a dream shared by many sailors: to leave the ordinary behind and sail around the world. What followed was one of the most extraordinary maritime survival stories ever recorded.

Their yacht was struck by a breaching whale thousands of miles from shore. With no time to send a distress signal, the Baileys escaped into a small inflatable life raft with only a few salvaged supplies—and drifted, alone, for 118 days.

Now, journalist Sophie Elmhirst recounts their experience in A Marriage at Sea, a nonfiction narrative that blends the high drama of life-or-death survival with an intimate examination of marriage, resilience, and the human condition. – Full report