Product Description

A Powerful Account of Struggle and Survival at Sea

The lure of paradise was unmistakable, and Bill Butler was on a quest to find it with his wife Simonne—riding the Pacific currents on their sloop Siboney, with a world of possibilities ahead. But, twelve hundred miles from land, the alluring ocean showed its deadly side when, without warning, a pod of pilot whales attacked their sailboat, battering it until it sank beneath the waves. The dazed couple was left drifting in midocean in a leaky six-foot raft meant for coastal waters, with only a few hastily grabbed provisions to sustain them. Simonne, who had never truly shared Bill's dream of circumnavigating the globe, blamed him bitterly for their desperate plight.

In this powerful account of their 66-day odyssey, Butler tells a gritty, harrowing tale of their battles against nature, despair, and their own demons. He reveals how he and Simonne found the strength to survive despite the ravages of hunger, storms, and sharks. Based on Butler's faithful log entries, 66 Days Adrift is both a chilling cautionary tale for sailors with big ideas and an inspiring story of love, faith, and survival against long odds.

"How a lifetime dream to sail around the world becomes a fight to survive."—Yachting

"A vivid account of the complete will to live."—The San Juan Star

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #137342 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From the Back Cover

A Powerful Account of Struggle and Survival at Sea

The lure of paradise was unmistakable, and Bill Butler was on a quest to find it with his wife Simonne—riding the Pacific currents on their sloop Siboney, with a world of possibilities ahead. But, twelve hundred miles from land, the alluring ocean showed its deadly side when, without warning, a pod of pilot whales attacked their sailboat, battering it until it sank beneath the waves. The dazed couple was left drifting in midocean in a leaky six-foot raft meant for coastal waters, with only a few hastily grabbed provisions to sustain them. Simonne, who had never truly shared Bill's dream of circumnavigating the globe, blamed him bitterly for their desperate plight.

In this powerful account of their 66-day odyssey, Butler tells a gritty, harrowing tale of their battles against nature, despair, and their own demons. He reveals how he and Simonne found the strength to survive despite the ravages of hunger, storms, and sharks. Based on Butler's faithful log entries, 66 Days Adrift is both a chilling cautionary tale for sailors with big ideas and an inspiring story of love, faith, and survival against long odds.

"How a lifetime dream to sail around the world becomes a fight to survive."—Yachting

"A vivid account of the complete will to live."—The San Juan Star

William Butler learned to sail by the age of nine. When he retired in 1989, he had logged more than 34,000 blue-water miles; his total now exceeds 74,000 miles. Bill and Simonne are #15 in the 2004 Outdoor Life Network program "Countdown: Survival 25"—the most inspiring and unbelievable survival stories of the 20th century.

About the Author

William Butler learned to sail by the age of nine. In 1989 he retired from business and went sailing. Since then, he has logged more than 74,000 miles at sea.

Customer Reviews

Powerful Stuff
This book surprised me, I wasn't particularly keen to read it as I thought it would just be 66 days of them staring out at an empty sea, but encouraged to do so by my husband who'd just finished it I picked it up and read it cover to cover in a couple of days. Yes, it was 66 days of them floating about in a barely seaworthy life raft, but the way William Butler takes us through it, it certainly is not a boring story. A very tense read, but enjoyable nonetheless.