We’re well into the crazy season now, there’s a “last flight out of Saigon” atmosphere that creeps into publishing at this time of year. Also, it’s party time.
Was talking last night to a chap who spent a large part of the past six weeks afloat, adrift, becalmed. He was the professional crew in a ketch taking half a dozen tourists on a luxury cruise between the Philippines and Thailand. They got more than they bargained for.
First, the wind dropped completely. No problem, they had an engine. Which didn’t work and couldn’t be repaired. So… no electricity. No GPS. No communications. They drifted for days, away from shipping lanes.
Then the water supply started to run out. The captain – elderly, eccentric – pretty much withdrew. The luxury tourists started stealing & hoarding water, every manjack for himself.
After a week adrift, he took a sextant sighting. They were exactly where they had been a week before, going round in a giant circle. He knew they were going to die.
Then a Thai voice hailed them. A tiny, primitive fishing trimaran had spotted them. Only room to take one passenger off at a time. He flew home to last night’s party.
This is the sort of story that never makes the news, but is brimming with drama. Fascinating, I thought.
Was talking last night to a chap who spent a large part of the past six weeks afloat, adrift, becalmed. He was the professional crew in a ketch taking half a dozen tourists on a luxury cruise between the Philippines and Thailand. They got more than they bargained for.
First, the wind dropped completely. No problem, they had an engine. Which didn’t work and couldn’t be repaired. So… no electricity. No GPS. No communications. They drifted for days, away from shipping lanes.
Then the water supply started to run out. The captain – elderly, eccentric – pretty much withdrew. The luxury tourists started stealing & hoarding water, every manjack for himself.
After a week adrift, he took a sextant sighting. They were exactly where they had been a week before, going round in a giant circle. He knew they were going to die.
Then a Thai voice hailed them. A tiny, primitive fishing trimaran had spotted them. Only room to take one passenger off at a time. He flew home to last night’s party.
This is the sort of story that never makes the news, but is brimming with drama. Fascinating, I thought.