Maurice and Maralyn Bailey
Encyclopedia
Maurice and Maralyn Bailey were a British couple who, in 1973, survived for 117 days on a rubber raft in the Pacific Ocean
before being rescued.
The Bailey's journey began when they left Southampton
, England
in their 31 feet (9.4 m) yacht, the Auralyn. Their intended destination was New Zealand
. They passed safely through the Panama Canal
in February and were on their way to the Galapagos Islands
. At the crack of dawn of March 4, 1973, their yacht was struck by a whale and severely damaged. After transferring some supplies to an inflated raft and dinghy
and salvaging some food, a compass, and other supplies, the Baileys watched as the Auralyn disappeared beneath the waves. To survive, they collected rainwater and when their meager food supplies ran out, began eating sea creatures such as turtles, seabirds and fish caught by hand or with safety pins fashioned into hooks. As they drifted in the open Pacific, the couple saw seven different ships, not one stopping to their aid. Their liferaft began to disintegrate and required frequent reinflation. They read and played card games early in their ordeal, but later the Baileys suffered terribly from malnutrition and friction-induced sores, the latter worsening due to the wet conditions in the raft. They encountered sharks and dolphins and endured several severe storms.
After traveling some 1500 miles (2,414 km), the Baileys were rescued by the crew of a Korean fishing boat, the Weolmi 306, on June 30, 1973. Sailors on the ship spotted the raft after initially passing it by. The couple was brought aboard in an emaciated state, having lost some forty pounds apiece and with their legs barely able to support their weight. The Weolmi brought them to Honolulu, Hawaii
and to a fine welcome. The Baileys returned to England and wrote an account of their ordeal entitled 117 Days Adrift (Staying Alive! in the U.S.), which was published in 1974. The following year, they returned to the sea in their new yacht, the Auralyn II.
Maralyn Bailey was born Maralyn Harrison on April 24, 1941 in Nottingham
, England. Maralyn and Maurice married in 1963. Maralyn died in 2002 at the age of 61.
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
before being rescued.
The Bailey's journey began when they left Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in their 31 feet (9.4 m) yacht, the Auralyn. Their intended destination was New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. They passed safely through the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
in February and were on their way to the Galapagos Islands
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
. At the crack of dawn of March 4, 1973, their yacht was struck by a whale and severely damaged. After transferring some supplies to an inflated raft and dinghy
Dinghy
A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed for use as a ship's boat by a larger vessel. It is a loanword from either Bengali or Urdu. The term can also refer to small racing yachts or recreational open sailing boats. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor,...
and salvaging some food, a compass, and other supplies, the Baileys watched as the Auralyn disappeared beneath the waves. To survive, they collected rainwater and when their meager food supplies ran out, began eating sea creatures such as turtles, seabirds and fish caught by hand or with safety pins fashioned into hooks. As they drifted in the open Pacific, the couple saw seven different ships, not one stopping to their aid. Their liferaft began to disintegrate and required frequent reinflation. They read and played card games early in their ordeal, but later the Baileys suffered terribly from malnutrition and friction-induced sores, the latter worsening due to the wet conditions in the raft. They encountered sharks and dolphins and endured several severe storms.
After traveling some 1500 miles (2,414 km), the Baileys were rescued by the crew of a Korean fishing boat, the Weolmi 306, on June 30, 1973. Sailors on the ship spotted the raft after initially passing it by. The couple was brought aboard in an emaciated state, having lost some forty pounds apiece and with their legs barely able to support their weight. The Weolmi brought them to Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and to a fine welcome. The Baileys returned to England and wrote an account of their ordeal entitled 117 Days Adrift (Staying Alive! in the U.S.), which was published in 1974. The following year, they returned to the sea in their new yacht, the Auralyn II.
Maralyn Bailey was born Maralyn Harrison on April 24, 1941 in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, England. Maralyn and Maurice married in 1963. Maralyn died in 2002 at the age of 61.
External links
- 117 Days Adrift on Google Books
- Obituary for Maralyn Bailey from The Daily Telegraph, London, June 13 2002
See also
- Steven CallahanSteven CallahanSteven Callahan is an American author, naval architect, inventor, and sailor most notable for having survived for 76 days adrift on the Atlantic Ocean in a liferaft...
, survived 76 days adrift in the Atlantic. - Dougal RobertsonDougal RobertsonDougal Robertson was a Scottish author and sailor born in Edinburgh. He joined the British Merchant Navy after attending Leith Nautical College...
, survived 38 days adrift in the Pacific. - Rose NoelleRose NoelleRose Noelle was a trimaran that capsized in the southern Pacific Ocean off the coast of New Zealand in 1989. Four men survived adrift on the wreckage of the ship for 119 days.-References:...
, trimaranTrimaranA trimaran is a multihulled boat consisting of a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls , attached to the main hull with lateral struts...
on which 4 people survived 119 days adrift in the South Pacific. - Poon LimPoon LimPoon Lim or Lim Poon BEM was a Chinese sailor who survived 133 days alone in the South Atlantic.-Castaway:...
, who survived for 133 days adrift in the Atlantic.