Open Looks: Book review: "A Marriage at Sea" by Sophie Elmhirst

I don't want to brag, but when it comes to getting lost at sea, I know a few things.

I've read at least 13 books about real people who must survive on the open ocean after their boat sinks or its engine dies. This includes "Adrift," Steven Callahan's amazing tale of floating across the Atlantic for 76 days. There's "In the Heart of the Sea," the story of 20 men desperately trying to stay alive after losing their whaleship. Equally impressive is "438 Days," the tale of a Mexican fisherman who survived over a year floating across the Pacific.

All of those are great books and each offered lessons about what to do, and what not to do, if you're ever unfortunate enough to be in that situtation.

The latest addition to my survival-at-sea bookshelf is Sophie Elmhirst's 2024 book, "A Marriage at Sea." This book describes the ordeal of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, an English couple who were attempting to sail their 31-foot boat from England to New Zealand in 1973 when the vessel sank after a collision with a whale. For 118 days, the Baileys drifted across the Pacific in a rubber life raft and inflatable dinghy, the two vessels tethered by a rope.

It is a compelling story and is well-told by Elmhirst.

The survival story isn't the only interesting part of the book. Elmhirst details how the Baileys planned and prepared for their long-distance boat trip, then takes us along, as vicarious participants, as they sail from port to port, from Europe to the Canary Islands to the Caribbean, and then through the Panama Canal. I was struck by the social network of this subculture; the Baileys often met up with the same travelers doing similar voyages in far-flung places.

The sinking upends their carefully made plans. Like other such books, "A Marriage at Sea" makes it clear that survival in this situation is a lot more than luck — it takes discipline, focus and innovation.

They conserve their food tins as long as they can, then turn to the sea for sustenance. Maralyn turns a safety pin into a fish hook. They catch turtles and carve out the meat with small knives.

What makes this story unique in this genre is that the main characters are a married couple, inherently adding a layer to their personal dynamics. At one point, well into their ordeal, Maralyn ask Maurice how she looks (they had no mirror). He is reluctant to tell her how much her bones are visible through her rapidly withering skin. Later, as Maurice fell into depression and considers suicide, it is Maralyn who holds him steady.

After their rescue, Elmhirst outlines a bewildering period when the Baileys achieve worldwide fame, appearing on TV shows, become honored guests at events. It's a jarring contrast to their days of isolation on the sea.

That is all interesting, but Elmhirst stretches the story too far, detailing the Baileys' lives until death. Maralyn died in 2002, while Maurice lived 16 years more. I don't mean to be harsh, but we don't need six chapters showing the morose Maurice shuffling sadly through his last years, lost without Maralyn, each week wandering into his favorite teahouse to describe his suicidal feelings.

I have a couple other quibbles with the book. First, I wish Elmhirst had been more forthright in explaining her sourcing. She rarely cites a source, leaving the reader to wonder where the information came from. At the very back of the book, she explains that she used the Baileys' own books, Maralyn's diary and interviews with some friends and acquaintances. I just wish she had stated all that at the top.

My second complaint is about the lack of pictures. There's only one photo in the book. This seems particularly striking because Elmhirst describes specific photos of the Baileys during and after their rescue. Why not just include the photos?

But these are minor complaints. "A Marriage at Sea." is largely an engaing story and I'm glad I read it.

I can't leave this review without including my list of survival-at-sea books. While all these books have at least some merit, I'll list them in order from best to avegage.