If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. Then, check out these five amazing survival stories. Alone, terrified, injured with a bad cut on her head, and grieving for her fiance, Ashcraft nonetheless managed to rig a makeshift sail from a broken spinnaker pole and an extra storm jib and pump the water out of the cabin. There were times I didn't even want to live anymore because I didn't know how I was going to go on. Now looking back, at times I really needed some professional help.". However (major spoilers ahead), the movie does reveal towards the end that Sharp did actually die early on, and that it was really just his spirit that gave Oldham-Ashcraft the strength she needed to survive her 42-day ordeal. It underscored how lucky I really was to survive., Dad who got trapped inside indoor adventure centre cave dies from his injuries, Brit MasterChef Australia host dies aged 46 as Gordon Ramsay leads tributes, First look at Britain's biggest EVER stage for King Charles' coronation concert, Two campmates are faking it in Im A Celeb, hints Shaun Ryder after eviction, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. At times she thought madness had set in, when she hallucinated land that was not there. I couldn't wait to get out of the States and get back to some tranquility and get back to the water again. Woodleys Adrift a lifetime opportunity Next, read about the worst natural disasters of the 21st century. When she awoke, she was surrounded by destruction. I kind of parallel [the hurricane] to being in a car accident. It saved my life.. A woman who spent 41 days alone in a - UPI Archives But it definitely made me a lot more cautious. A. Tami Oldham Ashcraft - Wikipedia It was later translated into eight languages, published in fifteen countries and has now been made into a movie, appropriately titled Adrift. Why did you decide to write this book and why did you wait so long after your ordeal to start writing it? An incredible tale, yes, but believe it or not, it's actually based on a true storyand the 2002 memoir written by Tami herself titled Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss and Survival at Sea (which has since been re-released by Dey Street Books as Adrift). Red Sky in Mourning - Google Books Hazana after it was towed into the harbor at Hilo. "There were times I didn't even want to live anymore because I didn't know how I was going to go on. .css-1b2q3vo{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;display:inline-block;background-color:#CDE5F0;font-family:Gotham,Georgia,Times,Sans-serif;font-size:0.70028rem;line-height:1;font-weight:bold;padding:0.9375rem 1.25rem 0.9rem;text-transform:uppercase;width:auto;}.css-1b2q3vo:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:#0A5C80;background-color:#CDE5F0;-webkit-filter:contrast(0.9);filter:contrast(0.9);}.css-1b2q3vo:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}BUY TICKETS See when Adrift is playing near you. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Scrambling above deck, she discovered Sharp's safety line dangling over the end of the boat, but he was gone. 5 Incredible Sea Survival Stories Where People Defied the Odds How did you find the courage to sail again? Adrift charts a romance and Join Facebook to connect with Tammy Oldham and others you may know. The couple, both avid sailors, had decided to take a break from pleasure sailing in Sharp's 36-foot sailboat, Mayaluga, to take a job delivering a 44-foot yacht, Hazana, from Tahiti to San Diego. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. I really had to keep determined that I wasn't going to die. Directed by Baltasar Kormkur, from a screenplay by Aaron and Jordan Kandell and David Branson Smith, based on a book by Tami Oldham Ashcraft and Susea McGearhart. "Come sail with me," goes the first line of the trailer for the .css-1e1wdvt{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#0A5C80;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1e1wdvt:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:#0A5C80;}new movie Adrift, delivered dreamily by Sam Claflin, who stars in the film opposite Shailene Woodley. A. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. But that survival instinct [while at sea] just kicked in. . Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. How Accurate Is 'Adrift'? The True Story Makes Some Big - Bustle She also found a sextant a navigational instrument first used by mariners 250 years ago which she had been trained to use. Hurricane Raymond, a category-four hurricane, surprised the couple by changing course sooner than they expected. ", "While I was in the survival mode, the grief was fairly low," she continued. It was 1983, and, just as the trailer depicts, Tami and Richard were engaged and in loveboth with each other and with the water, which they had called home for six months of sailing in their boat, the Mayaluga. Sharp, however, was gone. What was the hardest part of your ordeal? Waking up badly injured after being knocked unconscious by the storm, Oldham-Ashcraft navigated over 1,500 miles alone with just a sextant and watch, surviving on canned food and peanut butter until she reached the safety of Hilo, HI. Public-school educated Richard, from Cornwall, had been set to follow his officer father into the Royal Navy, but was thrown out of the academy for insubordination. She never saw him again. Then a British couple hired them to sail their bigger yacht, the Hazana to San Diego Tamis home town. v=?LPsXR[iYx^a."5xbI\ OI9agla0! In 1983, Ashcraft's fianc, 34-year-old British sailor Richard Sharp, was hired to deliver the 43-foot (13 m) yacht Hazaa from Tahiti to San Diego. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". But it definitely made me a lot more cautious.". In September 1983, Tami Oldham Ashcraft and her fianc, Richard Sharp, set off on the trip of a lifetime. Though the trip was over 4,000 miles, and longer than they had ever gone at one time, the couple felt confident in their ability to do it. It does not store any personal data. Tami Oldham 35 years later, incredible story of survival at sea to hit the She talks about Shailene Woodley playing her and how WebTammy Oldham is on Facebook. You got right back into sailing after your experience. Tami Lee Oldham Ashcraft is an American sailor and author who, in 1983, survived 41 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean. I'm fairly headstrong, so I'm always, 'Oh, I can get through this on my own.' They had been hired by the boat's new owner to deliver it to San Diego, California. Tami must find a way to keep the vessel afloat and sail her fianc to safety. Critics have given Woodley positive reviews for her ability to capture the dire reality of the moment. Couldn't wait to start traveling. Then the radio crackled to life with a warning that Hurricane Raymond was bearing down on them. *(I;:*[W"Dd (`|%l[,Yf`/XhD0UZI#9^lMG=3pdFlT"lrda9x Y8|11P + -%]1Fl}qC^9"4nGf'1(0&$k]N [rm!] d! Unable to outsail the ferocious Hurricane Raymond, Sharp and Ashcraft fought desperately to keep Hazana afloat in the 40-foot waves and 140-knot winds. The Hazana's cabin was flooded with water; Tami pumped it out. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. It took me six years even to read a book again because I had a major head injury. She heard it again when, desperate to get out of the flooded yacht, she prepared to set off in the lifeboat. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. happy lovers Tami and Richard, Fear. Tami once recalled: We hugged, laughed, made love and relaxed into 20 days of paradise.. worst natural disasters of the 21st century. Her book is now available in 15 countries and eight languages. Learn more. WebWent to Point Loma High School, San Diego, CA. Three weeks into their journey, disaster struck. I think, personally, it was my inner spirit. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. How old is Tami Oldham Ashcraft? Did anyone ever suggest that you receive counseling to deal with your trauma? LOS ANGELES Shailene Woodley says the experience of shooting on the open ocean during the making of Adrift was a once in a lifetime opportunity. What advice would you give to other women facing obstacles in their lives? Tami Ashcraft Oldham and Richard Sharp were delivering a yacht from Tahiti to California when disaster struck (Image: TV grab) Read More Related Articles. Tami was played by the beautiful Shailene Woodley and her former fianc Richard Sharp by the dashing Sam Claflin. Despite changing course to avoid it, the storm followed them, forcing the couple to combat 40-foot waves and 140-knot winds, according to the Chicago Tribune. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Don't have a commenting profile? People want to convince me it was God, but I don't know. And it really made me prioritize, which is something I learned. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It was a tribute to him.". . So any deviations from the sailor's lived experience are intentional, and done with her approval. WebTami Oldham is on Facebook. The film has her coming to and finding Richard badly injured, leaving her the only one able to operate and repair the yacht, which she does under Richard's guidance. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Tami recalled: While I was in survival mode, the grief was fairly low. Already registered? Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. Mother: Donna Goulet (Stepmother) Brother: Matt Sharp (Cousin) The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Taysha Murtaugh was the Lifestyle Editor at CountryLiving.com. Ashcraft, now married with two children and living on San Juan Island, Wash., spoke about her ordeal on a recent visit to Chicago. The only sign of her trauma is a tiny sextant pendant, encrusted with a diamond, which she wears every day. My main message is that knowledge is key for any kind of extreme sports that women get involved in. In the most profound way, it made me really appreciate life. Tami Oldham These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Her story inspired the 2018 film Adrift. In an interview, she told Red Carpet Crash she'd been working with the screenwriters for over five years since they came to her with the idea of turning her book into a film, noting, "I've waited many years for fruition, to see my story on the big screen." H ,',:}{(hG&!G?W!ra(ca%C It wasnt as intense as when I got to shore and the survival was over, and I could see people together and everything kept reminding me of him. He insisted she take cover below deck while he tried to steer the Hazana to safety, then gave her a reassuring wink as she headed downwards. When she regained consciousness a day later, the storm was over. Shailene Woodley arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Adrift" at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on Wednesday. This content is imported from youTube. She heard: Never leave the boat. based on her true story of survival in Category-four Hurricane in 1983, Sister: Cousin: Chelsea Reinhart Pavloff & Claire Bullas, Daughter: Brook Ashcraft and Kelli Ashcraft, Your email address will not be published. But everything changed when they were hired to transport a 44-foot yacht called Hazana from Tahiti to San Diego. I'm passionate about it. Though all the odds were against her, Tami Oldham Ashcraft managed to do it. Plus, she said, she had both Ashcrafts memoir and the woman herself for any questions, big and smal. Though she still carries the memory of her experience and her fianc with her every day, shes gotten married, has two children, and is the picture of happiness. In the preview for the film, Richard appears to be living (although it's unclear if he is really there or simply a vision), but sadly the real Richard died; he is believed to have been thrown from Hazana when it capsized. The cabin was half-filled with water; everything in it was smashed or scattered on the floor. It was my spirit. When the couple encounters 1983's formidable Hurricane Raymond, the force of the storm damages the ship and severely injures Richard. For the next 41 days, Tami Oldham Ashcraft would be alone, adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, fighting to survive. The True Story of Adrift - Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp Real She says Woodley and Claflin fit the personalities of her and Sharp at the time of their voyage. I know in a blinding flash hes gone overboard.. The masts were broken off and the waterlogged sails floated uselessly in the water. I couldn't believe how much I was still holding around in my head, and just purging it like that really helped me to get past it all.