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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice's "Bonkers" Ending Detailed By Writer

Kevin costner emotionally addresses horizon's future after chapter 1's disappointing $36m box office, beetlejuice beetlejuice box office setting all-time records 36 years after original's release [full chart update].

Discovery's Capsized: Blood in the Water is based on the harrowing true story of a sailing crew stuck adrift for days in shark-infested waters. The full-length film marks Shark Week 's first-ever original movie, although some details were changed compared to the disastrous event.

Sharing the story of the 1982 fateful trip, Capsized: Blood in the Water showcases how much a person can endure when survival instincts kick in. The film also explores how hope could make all the difference in life and death situations. Furthermore, it examines the warning signs that some of the crew should have pointed out which could have prevented the deadly trip.

Related:  Jaws: Where Amity Island Is Supposed To Be (& Where It Was Filmed)

Capsized: Blood in the Water ends with only two survivors who witnessed more terror than anyone could ever imagine. Capsized: Blood in the Water informs viewers about what happened to the survivors after they were rescued by a Soviet cargo ship. But along the way, some changes were made to quicken the story and dramatize it for television.

Capsized: Blood in the Water True Story Differences

Perhaps the most notable changes in Capsized: Blood in the Water 's true story is the dynamic and demeanor of the crew. John Lippoth (Josh Duhamel) serves as the yacht's captain and the movie portrays him as a skilled boater who keeps his crew in line. In reality, John was lazy, inexperienced, and spent most of his time drinking with crewman Mark (Joshua Close) below deck. Even though the new guy, Brad (Tyler Blackburn), is shown as being a novice to the boating world, the real Brad Cavanagh was highly adept in the sea, as was Deborah Scaling-Kiley (Beau Garrett).

The capsize of the boat is also hurried in the film compared to the actual event. The movie begins with the yacht, Trashman, leaving Annapolis, Maryland, as it sets sail for Florida. The true journey began in Portland, Maine, before it made a stop in Annapolis. On the way to Florida, the Trashman hit rough seas during a long storm. The crew took turns taking the watch and steering the ship which lasted for the better part of a day. John and Mark had been drinking and they fell asleep when they were supposed to be on duty. The yacht had taken too much damage, causing it to sink. In the movie, a storm quickly approaches and capsizes the boat almost immediately.

John's girlfriend Meg Mooney (Rebekah Graf) was injured by some of the boat's rigging when the group tried to make it to the inflated lifeboat. They were forced to take refuge under the lifeboat for 18 hours before the wind died down and they were able to flip it and get inside. Meg injures her leg before they are forced out of the boat in the movie. She later dies from her injuries in the same fashion as Meg did in 1982. Both John and Mark fall victim in a similar fashion as they did during the real event. They hallucinate and fall in the water before they are attacked, and ultimately killed, by sharks. Mark's hallucinations stemmed from drinking saltwater which is what made both men lose their minds in the true tale.

Related:  Why The Mist's Movie Ending Is Still One Of The Most Shocking Ever

What Happened After Capsized: Blood in the Water's Ending?

Capsized: Blood in the Water 's ending provides a follow-up on the lives of Brad and Deborah following their rescue. After five days without food and water, the sole survivors were picked up by the Russians on October 28, 1982. The pair then spent eight days in the hospital as they were treated for severe dehydration and starvation.

Deborah went on to have a successful speaking career and wrote three books about her survival. It was revealed that she died in 2012. Brad suffered from the trauma for years but he later overcame the terrifying memories. He eventually became a boat captain and often travels along the same route where the group capsized. Capsized: Blood in the Water 's ending text appropriately honors the three crew members that were lost on the journey.

Next:  The Red Sea Diving Resort True Story: What The Netflix Movie Changed

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The Shark Week Flick 'Capsized: Blood in the Water' Is Based on Terrifying True Events

Lizzy Rosenberg - Author

Updated July 31 2019, 7:04 p.m. ET

Well y'all, it's that time of year again: Shark Week. The 31st season of the annual program kicked off on Discovery Channel on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. And while the live footage is usually what I anticipate most, one TV movie, Capsized: Blood in the Water, has caught my attention.

Most of the TV movies during Shark Week tend to be far-fetched, but this one seems particularly realistic. So in case you're wondering if Capsized: Blood in the Water is a true story, brace yourself — it's based on real-life events.

What is the true story behind Capsized: Blood in the Water?

Capsized: Blood in the Water happens to be Discovery's first full feature film to debut during the intriguing (yet completely terrifying) week-long program, according to NBC. 

And despite the fact the movie screams Hollywood (I mean — really — it stars Josh Duhamel), the film was apparently based on some seriously wild real-life events. 

The movie is based on a tragedy that occurred in 1982. According to National Post , it all started when a boat owner hired a crew to bring his yacht, 'Trashman' to his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. from Portland, Maine. However, it capsized during a storm and sunk off the coast of North Carolina by Morehead City. 

The area is an infamous home to sharks, and though the crew crammed into a lifeboat, many were bleeding from injuries incurred from the storm. The lifeboat was soon surrounded by tiger sharks.

The crew was stranded for a total of 18 hours, according to Popular Mechanics , Two crew members, Captain John Lippoth and his friend, Mark Adams, had been consistently drunk during the excursion. 

They drank seawater and soon became incoherent and went overboard. The captain's girlfriend ended up dying from blood poisoning, and had to be thrown overboard. 

In the end, only two crew members, Deborah Scaling Kiley and Brad Cavanagh, survived. They were eventually rescued by a Soviet cargo freighter. 

According to Popular Mechanics ,   Deborah and Brad were unable to do much after the storm. They lost most of their food, water, and supplies. 

Plus, seeing as the captain was consistently drunk and apparently afraid of the ocean, he wasn't an incredibly helpful asset.

The Capsized: Blood in the Water trailer was officially released on Shark Week's Twitter account last week. It depicts the story of the stranded crew, and how they tried their best to survive in a lifeboat without supplies, while being hunted by tiger sharks. 

Definitely watch it if you haven't already, below.

Like I said, the Shark Week feature film stars Josh Duhamel (so it's bound to be a beautiful time), as well as Tyler Blackburn, and Beau Garrett. 

You will officially be able to watch it as of July 31 at 9 p.m. ET on the Discovery Channel. Oh, and don't worry — it's a no-life-jacket-required viewing party... just make sure you remember to keep all of your emotions in check. Sharks can smell fear, you know. 

Melissa Márquez Is the Shark Week Expert We All Want to Be

Can Sharks Really Smell a Drop of Blood? Watch YouTuber Mark Rober Find Out!

The Internet Is Not So Sure About Celebrities Taking Over Shark Week 2019

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41 Days Stranded at Sea: The Harrowing, Heartbreaking Real-Life Story Behind New Movie 'Adrift'

"It's amazing what you can do when you have to survive," says shipwreck survivor Tami Oldham Ashcraft

Spoiler Alert! This story contains major spoilers about the plot of the new movie Adrift .

The summer of 1983 started out like a fairytale adventure for 23-year-old globetrotter Tami Oldham Ashcraft.

The California native got engaged to her British boyfriend, Richard Sharp, and several months later the two experienced sailors set out on a dream trip from Tahiti to San Diego on a luxurious 44-foot sailboat. Less than two weeks into their trek, the pair — played by Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin in the new movie Adrift — were trapped in a devastatingly strong hurricane that changed their lives forever.

Ashcraft, who originally detailed her ordeal in a 1998 self-published memoir Red Sky in Mourning , says that although she and Sharp received radio warnings about the developing storm, which started out as a tropical depression and quickly gained in intensity and speed, they were unable to outrun it.

“We ran from it for three days trying to figure it out, because it kept changing direction,” Ashcraft recalls to PEOPLE. “The storms are going twice your speed. We couldn’t make that kind of time with the boat to get out of the way.”

When the hurricane fully descended upon them on Oct. 12, Sharp had sent Ashcraft below deck to rest. The last thing she remembers before the boat capsized and she was knocked unconscious is her fiancé screaming.

“When I woke up from being knocked out for 27 hours, I didn’t know where I was,” she recalls. “I was like, ‘Where am I?’ The boat’s half-full of water at that point, I couldn’t even really remember anything. Then I started moving and unlatching myself [from her safety suit and various debris], looking around going, ‘Oh my God. Richard. Where’s Richard?'”

All she could find of Sharp in the midst of the wreckage was his broken safety tether hanging lifelessly over the boat. While the reality of her grave situation swept over her, so did the awareness that she was badly injured — her head was split open behind her hairline and she had a serious gash on her leg — and drifting aimlessly somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

“They were both bad. My head injury I could keep clean somewhat, keep bandages on it,” says Ashcraft. “Thank goodness it’s underneath my hairline so you can’t see it. It splayed my head wide open, and I just bled. My leg I kept hitting on everything, and then there was so much water in the boat. It would just stay wet all the time. I was super worried about my leg. Then I started ripping up t-shirts and stuff when I ran out of bandages.”

After she self-administered first aid, Ashcraft’s next key survival move was crafting a makeshift sail from some of the debris on the boat and setting course for Hawaii — 1,500 miles away — which she was able to do via her navigation skills.

“What saved my life was knowing celestial navigation, that I could navigate by the sun and get myself somewhere,” Ashcraft says. “You have to do three sights a day, and sometimes I would have to do four. Doing all the mathematics required for that really helped me to focus.”

RELATED VIDEO: Two American Women and Their Dogs Rescued After Five ‘Hopeless’ Months Lost At Sea

It also helped keep her mind off her grief over losing her fiancé in such a tragic way.

“I had to tell myself onboard that I couldn’t cry anymore, because I was losing way too much water,” Ashcraft says. “My water supply was very limited. I just had a big talk with myself. That inner strength to survive is so strong. You just don’t realize it, until you’re put in a really crucial time that you have to survive. It’s amazing what you can do. That just comes from within really. Then keeping your mind active.”

Ashcraft survived 41 days adrift in the Pacific, subsisting on peanut butter and willpower, before she approached Hilo, Hawaii and was picked up by a Japanese research vessel after sending up a flare around 4 o’clock in the morning.

The ship’s crew members “were shocked,” she recalls. “I was exhausted. I was way underweight — I’m 5’8″-5’9″ and I weighed about 100 lbs. I didn’t even go to the hospital. Can you believe that? I can’t believe nobody sent me to the hospital.”

When Ashcraft returned home to San Diego, the weight of her near-death experience and the loss of her first love fully set in, and she face a long recovery from her injuries, physically and mentally.

“I had the head injury and I couldn’t even read a book for nearly five years. I couldn’t finish sentences, my short term memory was really bad,” she says. “Seeing couples together, that sort of thing, was hard. I had nightmares. I was consumed for years and years with thinking about it. I then realized after five or six years that I could choose when to start thinking about him and the experience. I started realizing, ‘Oh, I’m not consumed by this all day now.'”

Although Ashcraft says her physical injuries healed well enough that she never went to a hospital for medical attention, she regrets not seeking out help from a therapist or counselor.

“I wish I had gotten some professional mental help. I think I could have sped up my recovery a little bit more,” she says. “Not so much the grieving but the mental recovery of reading and that kind of thing. They can give you projects to work on and things, and also just make sure that you’re going around the right track.”

Ashcraft says it took her a full five years before she was able to come out of her mental fog and feel joy again. She returned to the water almost immediately — only these days she prefers power boating to sailing when she navigates near Washington’s San Juan Islands, where she lives with her family, husband Ed, a contractor, and her two daughters.

“We’ve been a boating family,” she says. “I think it teaches the children so much more about life.”

Ashcraft still speaks publicly about her incredible survival story to groups like the Navy Survival School. “I’m glad to help, although I’m sorry I was in that situation. Now I choose when I want to think about it. For many years I was consumed by it and a lot of that had to do with just moving on in life,” she says. “It’s still in your heart. It’s just in a different way.”

Adrift is now playing in theaters.

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The 40+ Best Lost At Sea Movies

Ranker Film

The best lost at sea movies of all time chart a course through the uncharted territories of human endurance, capturing the imagination with tales of survival, isolation, and the indomitable human spirit. Set against the vast, unforgiving expanse of the ocean, these films weave narratives that are as deep and poignant as the waters they traverse. They invite viewers into stories where the sea is more than just a setting—it's a character, challenging the protagonists in ways both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

Among these cinematic voyages, Cast Away stands out with its compelling portrayal of solitude and survival, anchored by Tom Hanks' unforgettable performance. Equally stirring, Adrift captivates with its harrowing true story of love and endurance against the merciless Pacific Ocean. These films, among others, beautifully navigate the tumultuous waters of hope, despair, and redemption, offering viewers an unforgettable journey into the heart of the human spirit.

This list wasn't cast adrift without direction; it was meticulously curated by a crew of movie experts who delved into the vast ocean of film to fish out the true pearls. From there, it was up to the watchers, those aficionados of the silver screen, to cast their votes and help steer this collection into the harbor of the must-watch, the best lost at sea movies of all time.

Cast Away

In this enthralling survival drama, director Robert Zemeckis captures the desperate struggle of Chuck Noland (played by Tom Hanks), a FedEx employee who gets stranded on a remote island after a plane crash. As the narrative unfolds, the audience bears witness to Chuck's intense emotional journey as he seeks to stay alive in an unforgiving environment – from his frantic attempts to signal rescue, to his bond with the enigmatic volleyball Wilson. The film's gripping blend of isolation and existentialism makes it a quintessential tale of being lost at sea.

  • Released : 2000
  • Directed by : Robert Zemeckis

Adrift

Based on a harrowing true story, Adrift follows the lives of young couple Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin) as they embark on a sailing adventure across the Pacific Ocean. When they encounter a catastrophic hurricane, the pair must confront their own mortality and fight against all odds for survival. With its stunning visuals and exceptional performances, Adrift is a poignant and heart-wrenching take on love, loss, and resilience at sea.

  • Released : 2018
  • Directed by : Baltasar Kormákur

Titanic

James Cameron's epic disaster romance Titanic revisits the infamous sinking of the RMS Titanic, blending historical events with the fictional love story of upper-class Rose (Kate Winslet) and working-class Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio). The film's groundbreaking special effects and set design transport viewers into the heart of the disaster, while the compelling narrative keeps them hooked. Regarded as a cinematic masterpiece, Titanic remains a testament to the power of love amidst chaos and the indomitable human spirit.

  • Released : 1997
  • Directed by : James Cameron

The Perfect Storm

The Perfect Storm

Director Wolfgang Petersen brings Sebastian Junger's bestselling novel to life in The Perfect Storm , a thrilling drama about the ill-fated fishing vessel Andrea Gail and its crew during the “storm of the century.” Starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, the film's relentless action and palpable tension make it a must-watch for fans of high-seas adventure. The gripping storyline, bolstered by a talented ensemble cast, ensures that The Perfect Storm is a stormy voyage worth taking.

  • Directed by : Wolfgang Petersen

Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips

Paul Greengrass' thrilling biographical drama, Captain Phillips , recounts the incredible true story of the 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking – the first American cargo ship hijacking in over 200 years. Tom Hanks delivers a powerful performance as the titular character, whose resourcefulness and bravery in the face of danger make him an unlikely hero. With its gripping narrative, stellar performances, and intense action, Captain Phillips is an enthralling portrayal of survival and human resilience in the open sea.

  • Released : 2013
  • Directed by : Paul Greengrass

All Is Lost

All Is Lost

Robert Redford delivers a tour de force performance in J.C. Chandor's minimalist drama All Is Lost , playing an unnamed man who becomes stranded at sea after his sailboat collides with a shipping container. With virtually no dialogue, the film relies heavily on Redford's emotive acting and Chandor's masterful storytelling to convey the protagonist's desperation, resourcefulness, and resilience in the face of insurmountable odds. All Is Lost stands as a testament to the power of cinema to tell a compelling, human story with the barest of elements.

  • Directed by : J.C. Chandor

Life of Pi

Adapted from Yann Martel's novel, Ang Lee's visually stunning and spiritually resonant Life of Pi tells the extraordinary tale of Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma), a young Indian man who survives a shipwreck only to find himself sharing a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. As they embark on a fantastical journey through a captivating oceanic world filled with wonder, peril, and self-discovery, Lee seamlessly weaves elements of magical realism, religion, and philosophy into an unforgettable cinematic experience. Life of Pi 's breathtaking visuals and profound themes make it an essential viewing for anyone seeking solace or enlightenment in a sea of uncertainty.

  • Released : 2012
  • Directed by : Ang Lee

In the Heart of the Sea

In the Heart of the Sea

Ron Howard's visually striking and ambitious adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick's nonfiction book, In the Heart of the Sea , delves into the harrowing true story that inspired Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick . The film chronicles the brutal journey of the whaling ship Essex as it encounters a monstrous sperm whale, leaving the crew stranded in a merciless ocean with dwindling resources and a terrifying foe. With its stellar cast – including Chris Hemsworth star performance – and captivating storytelling, In the Heart of the Sea is a chilling and visceral tale of survival and bravery in the face of insurmountable challenges.

  • Released : 2015
  • Directed by : Ron Howard

The Poseidon Adventure

The Poseidon Adventure

A seminal disaster film from the 1970s, The Poseidon Adventure follows the struggle for survival aboard the SS Poseidon after the luxury liner capsizes due to a massive tidal wave. Directed by Ronald Neame and starring an all-star ensemble cast – including Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, and Shelley Winters – the film combines high-stakes action and gripping interpersonal drama, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. For fans of classic cinema and maritime thrillers, The Poseidon Adventure is a must-see.

  • Released : 1972
  • Directed by : Ronald Neame, Irwin Allen

Open Water

Loosely based on actual events, Open Water follows a couple left stranded in shark-infested waters after their scuba-diving excursion mistakenly leaves them behind. The film's gritty, low-budget approach captures the raw intensity of their struggle for survival, creating an unsettling sense of claustrophobia and dread. Directed by Chris Kentis, Open Water is a nerve-wracking, nail-biting thriller that serves as a sobering reminder of the perils of venturing into the unknown.

  • Released : 2003
  • Directed by : Chris Kentis

The Finest Hours

The Finest Hours

Based on the incredible true story of the Coast Guard's daring rescue attempt during the 1952 New England nor'easter, The Finest Hours , directed by Craig Gillespie, captures the courageous efforts of four men who risked their lives to save more than 30 stranded sailors. Featuring an exceptional ensemble cast led by Chris Pine and Casey Affleck, this film expertly weaves together thrilling action sequences and poignant character moments to tell a timeless tale of heroism and sacrifice. The Finest Hours ' gripping narrative and emotional resonance make it an unforgettable maritime adventure.

  • Released : 2016
  • Directed by : Craig Gillespie

Unbroken

Angelina Jolie's gripping biopic Unbroken tells the extraordinary true-story of Olympian and war hero Louis Zamperini (played by Jack O'Connell) and his unimaginable ordeal; from crashing into the Pacific Ocean during World War II to surviving 47 days adrift, only to be captured by the Japanese Navy. The film's powerful themes of perseverance, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit make it an inspiring and emotional watch. With its captivating narrative and standout performances, Unbroken is a compelling exploration of survival and redemption in the most trying of circumstances.

  • Released : 2014
  • Directed by : Angelina Jolie

Dead Calm

Phillip Noyce's suspenseful thriller Dead Calm follows a grieving couple, played by Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman, as they seek solace on a sailing trip, only to encounter a psychotic man (Billy Zane) who has left a trail of destruction in his wake. As tensions rise and allegiances shift, the characters battle for survival in an increasingly dangerous game of cat and mouse. Dead Calm 's intense atmosphere, strong performances, and unpredictable twists make it an unforgettable addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Released : 1989
  • Directed by : Phillip Noyce

Ghost Ship

In this chilling horror film, a salvage crew discovers the derelict ocean liner, SS Antonia Graza, and quickly becomes entangled in a web of supernatural terror. Directed by Steve Beck, Ghost Ship masterfully blends elements of maritime adventure and spine-tingling horror to create a uniquely terrifying experience. With its eerie atmosphere, tight pacing, and compelling story, Ghost Ship is perfect for those in search of a thrilling, ghostly adventure at sea.

  • Released : 2002
  • Directed by : Steve Beck

Poseidon

The 2006 remake of the classic disaster film, Poseidon focuses on a group of passengers aboard a luxury cruise liner who must fight for their lives when the ship is capsized by a colossal wave. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, who also helmed The Perfect Storm , this film boasts a talented ensemble cast and impressive special effects. Though the remake may not hold the same classic status as its predecessor, Poseidon still delivers high-stakes action and suspense, making it an enjoyable addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Released : 2006

Moby Dick

The definitive cinematic adaptation of Herman Melville's classic novel, John Huston's 1956 film Moby Dick captures the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab (Gregory Peck) to seek vengeance on the great white whale that destroyed his ship and cost him his leg. With its stunning visuals, exceptional performances, and haunting score, this film dives deep into themes of obsession, revenge, and the unfathomable power of nature. Moby Dick is not only a timeless tale of maritime adventure but also a profound exploration of the human psyche.

  • Released : 1956
  • Directed by : John Huston

The Reef

Based on a true story, The Reef follows a group of friends whose sailing trip takes a horrifying turn when their boat capsizes, leaving them at the mercy of a man-eating great white shark. Directed by Andrew Traucki, the film utilizes real shark footage to create a truly unnerving and authentic experience. With its relentless tension and harrowing depiction of survival, The Reef is a gripping and intense addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Released : 2010
  • Directed by : Andrew Traucki

White Squall

White Squall

Ridley Scott's nautical drama White Squall tells the true story of a group of teenage boys who embark on a six-month educational sailing expedition in the Caribbean, only to be caught in a devastating storm that tests their courage and unity. With its rich character development, breathtaking visuals, and heart-pounding action sequences, White Squall is both a thrilling high-seas adventure and a moving coming-of-age story that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.

  • Released : 1996
  • Directed by : Ridley Scott

The Guardian

The Guardian

In this gripping action-drama, Kevin Costner stars as a legendary Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer who takes on the challenge of training a young and reckless recruit, played by Ashton Kutcher. The film delves into the perilous world of search and rescue, showcasing the physical and emotional challenges faced by those sworn to protect lives at sea. Directed by Andrew Davis, The Guardian is an engaging and inspiring look at the sacrifices and bravery of those who risk it all in uncharted waters.

  • Directed by : Andrew Davis

Kon-Tiki

The inspiring true story of Thor Heyerdahl's daring 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean on a balsa wood raft comes to life in this award-winning film directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg. With its engaging characters, stunning cinematography, and thrilling action, Kon-Tiki is both an exhilarating adventure and a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The film's rich historical context and captivating storytelling make it an essential viewing for fans of maritime cinema.

  • Directed by : Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg

The Shallows

The Shallows

In this tense and visually striking survival thriller, a young surfer named Nancy (Blake Lively) finds herself stranded on a rock just 200 yards from shore with a great white shark circling her. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, The Shallows is a tightly-paced, edge-of-your-seat experience that expertly combines beautiful cinematography with nerve-wracking suspense. As Nancy battles against time, the elements, and a formidable predator, The Shallows delivers a thrilling and visceral tale of resilience and determination.

  • Directed by : Jaume Collet-Serra

The Boat

In Wolfgang Petersen's taut and claustrophobic thriller, a German U-boat crew faces the perils of World War II below the surface while struggling to maintain their sanity within the confined space of their submarine. As the crew members are pushed to their breaking point, The Boat explores the psychological toll of warfare and the bonds forged amid adversity. With its authentic portrayal of life aboard a U-boat and its engaging character dynamics, this film remains a compelling and unique entry in the lost at sea category.

  • Directed by : Winston Azzopardi

Satan's Triangle

Satan's Triangle

This 1975 made-for-television horror film follows an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle. The survivors of a shipwreck are faced with supernatural occurrences and demonic forces that challenge their sanity and survival. With its eerie atmosphere and unique blend of horror and maritime adventure, Satan's Triangle remains a cult favorite for those seeking something beyond the typical lost at sea narrative.

  • Released : 1975
  • Directed by : Sutton Roley

Triangle

In this mind-bending horror-thriller, a group of friends finds themselves trapped in a time loop while stranded on a seemingly abandoned ocean liner. Directed by Christopher Smith, Triangle combines elements of psychological horror and maritime adventure to create a haunting and disorienting cinematic experience. With its eerie atmosphere, complex narrative structure, and chilling twists, Triangle is an unconventional and unforgettable addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Released : 2009
  • Directed by : Christopher Smith

K-19: The Widowmaker

K-19: The Widowmaker

Based on the harrowing true story of a near nuclear disaster aboard a Soviet submarine in 1961, K-19: The Widowmaker stars Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson as naval officers whose bravery and ingenuity are pushed to the limit in their desperate race against time. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, this suspenseful and emotionally charged film delves into themes of duty, honor, and the sacrifices made in the name of global security. With its gripping narrative, strong performances, and historical resonance, K-19: The Widowmaker is an engrossing addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Directed by : Kathryn Bigelow

Maidentrip

This inspiring documentary chronicles the remarkable journey of Laura Dekker, a 14-year-old sailor who sets out to become the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe solo. Directed by Jillian Schlesinger, Maidentrip captures the beauty, loneliness, and triumph of Dekker's incredible adventure with breathtaking cinematography and intimate personal footage. A testament to the power of determination and self-reliance, Maidentrip is a captivating and empowering look at the transformative potential of life at sea.

  • Directed by : Jillian Schlesinger

Black Sea

In this gripping submarine thriller directed by Kevin Macdonald, Jude Law stars as a down-on-his-luck submarine captain who assembles a misfit crew to search for a sunken Nazi submarine rumored to be filled with gold. As tensions rise and alliances crumble, the crew finds itself battling for survival in the depths of the Black Sea. Packed with intense action, suspense, and top-notch performances, Black Sea is a taut and thrilling addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Directed by : Kevin Macdonald

Open Water 2: Adrift

Open Water 2: Adrift

In this sequel to the chilling 2003 thriller, a group of friends on a yachting trip finds themselves stranded in shark-infested waters after neglecting to lower a ladder before diving into the ocean. As fear and desperation mount, the friends must confront their darkest fears and make life-altering decisions in their struggle for survival. Though lacking the raw intensity of its predecessor, Open Water 2: Adrift offers a suspenseful and nerve-wracking exploration of the human psyche in the face of overwhelming adversity.

  • Directed by : Hans Horn

Mary

Directed by Michael Goi, Mary tells the chilling story of a struggling family who buys an abandoned ship in the hopes of starting a new life, only to find that something sinister lurks within its depths. As the mysteries unfold and supernatural events occur, the film expertly weaves together elements of horror, suspense, and family drama to create a gripping and atmospheric maritime thriller. With its talented cast and eerie visuals, Mary offers a haunting journey into the heart of darkness at sea.

  • Released : 2019
  • Directed by : Michael Goi

Lifeboat

Directed by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, this 1944 classic follows a group of survivors who find themselves confined to a small lifeboat after their ship is torpedoed during World War II. Hitchcock expertly manipulates the confined setting and tense character dynamics to create a suspenseful and engaging drama that explores themes of morality, survival, and the human capacity for cruelty and compassion in dire circumstances. A groundbreaking and thought-provoking entry in the lost at sea canon, Lifeboat remains an essential viewing for fans of the genre.

  • Released : 1944
  • Directed by : Alfred Hitchcock

The Deep

Based on Peter Benchley's bestselling novel, this suspenseful thriller follows a vacationing couple, played by Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset, who uncover a shipwreck filled with valuable treasures and become entangled in a deadly game of greed and betrayal. Directed by Peter Yates, The Deep expertly blends underwater adventure, gripping suspense, and riveting character drama to create a thrilling high-stakes journey into the depths of human ambition and desire. With its memorable performances, lush cinematography, and pulse-pounding action, The Deep (1977) remains an enduring entry in the lost at sea genre.

  • Released : 1977
  • Directed by : Peter Yates

Nowhere

  • Released : 2023
  • Directed by : Albert Pintó

The Mercy

This compelling biographical drama, directed by James Marsh, tells the tragic true story of amateur sailor Donald Crowhurst (played by Colin Firth), who attempted to circumnavigate the globe solo in an ill-fated 1968 race. The film expertly captures the psychological torment and isolation experienced by Crowhurst as he grapples with the consequences of his actions and the unforgiving power of the sea. Featuring standout performances and a poignant exploration of the human capacity for hope and despair, The Mercy offers a moving and sobering look at the darker side of the lost at sea narrative.

  • Directed by : James Marsh

Two Came Back

Two Came Back

Based on a true story and directed by Dick Lowry, this made-for-television drama follows five young adults who embark on a sailing trip that goes awry when they are caught in a devastating storm, leaving them stranded at sea for weeks. As the desperate crew battles hunger, thirst, and their own mortality, the film delves into themes of friendship, resilience, and the power of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. With its gripping narrative and heartfelt performances, Two Came Back offers an inspiring and emotional addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Directed by : Dick Lowry

A Hijacking

A Hijacking

Tobias Lindholm's tense and suspenseful drama A Hijacking follows the crew of a Danish cargo ship as they are taken hostage by Somali pirates, with the ship's cook serving as the primary focus of the story. As the tense negotiations between the ship owners and the pirates unfold, the film delves into themes of desperation, morality, and the human capacity for survival in extreme circumstances. A Hijacking 's realistic portrayal of modern-day piracy and its gripping narrative make it a must-watch addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Directed by : Tobias Lindholm

Souls at Sea

Souls at Sea

This classic 1937 adventure film, directed by Henry Hathaway, stars Gary Cooper and George Raft as two sailing buddies trying to thwart a brutal slave trader's nefarious plans. With its engaging characters, exciting narrative, and historical context, Souls at Sea offers an entertaining and action-packed look at maritime heroism in the age of sail. Its timeless themes of friendship, bravery, and justice make it a captivating entry in the lost at sea canon.

  • Released : 1937
  • Directed by : Henry Hathaway

Blue Miracle

Blue Miracle

Based on a true story, Blue Miracle follows a group of orphans and their guardian as they enter a big fishing tournament in the hopes of saving their cash-strapped orphanage. Directed by Julio Quintana, the film focuses on the inspiring journey of the underdog team and their determination to overcome their circumstances. With its heartwarming story, strong performances, and uplifting message, Blue Miracle is a touching and uplifting tale of hope and perseverance at sea.

  • Released : 2021
  • Directed by : Julio Quintana

For Those in Peril

For Those in Peril

This critically acclaimed British drama, directed by Paul Wright, tells the haunting story of a young man who is the sole survivor of a fishing accident that claimed the lives of his brother and several other men from his close-knit community. As he grapples with guilt, grief, and ostracism, the film delves into themes of loss, redemption, and the isolating power of the sea. With its raw performances, moody atmosphere, and emotional resonance, For Those in Peril offers a poignant and thought-provoking addition to the lost at sea genre.

  • Directed by : Paul Wright

Deep Rising

Deep Rising

In this action-packed sci-fi horror film, a group of mercenaries who commandeer a luxury cruise ship finds themselves terrorized by a monstrous sea creature that begins picking them off one by one. Directed by Stephen Sommers, Deep Rising combines elements of adventure, horror, and humor to create an entertaining and thrilling high-seas escapade. For fans of creature features and maritime mayhem, Deep Rising delivers a rollicking and suspenseful journey into the unknown.

  • Released : 1998
  • Directed by : Stephen Sommers

Sweetheart

In this innovative and genre-defying survival horror film , a young woman named Jenn (Kiersey Clemons) becomes stranded on a remote island after a shipwreck, only to discover that she is not alone. As she faces off against a terrifying and mysterious creature, director J.D. Dillard masterfully blends elements of horror, adventure, and character-driven drama to create a unique and thrilling cinematic experience. With its strong performances, inventive storytelling, and chilling atmosphere, Sweetheart offers a fresh and engaging take on the lost at sea narrative.

  • Directed by : J.D. Dillard

The Deep

This Icelandic drama, based on true events, tells the harrowing story of a fisherman who miraculously survives a shipwreck off the frigid coast of Iceland, swimming miles back to shore in the treacherous waters. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, The Deep delves into themes of survival, the power of the human spirit, and the resilience of the human body in extreme conditions. With its gripping narrative, powerful performances, and stark cinematography, The Deep (2012) is a poignant and intense exploration of human endurance in the face of incredible odds.

Speed 2: Cruise Control

Speed 2: Cruise Control

In this high-octane sequel to the 1994 action hit Speed , Sandra Bullock reprises her role as Annie, who finds herself on a hijacked luxury cruise ship that is rigged to crash into an oil tanker. Directed by Jan de Bont, the film features thrilling stunts, non-stop action, and Willem Dafoe's formidable performance as the unhinged villain. Though it may not be as critically acclaimed as its predecessor, Speed 2: Cruise Control offers an entertaining and adrenaline-fueled adventure on the high seas.

  • Directed by : Jan de Bont

Sea Fever

In this atmospheric sci-fi thriller, a marine biology student aboard a fishing trawler encounters a mysterious and deadly creature lurking in the depths of the ocean. Directed by Neasa Hardiman, Sea Fever expertly blends elements of horror, suspense, and scientific intrigue to create a thought-provoking and chilling maritime adventure. With its strong performances, innovative storytelling, and eerie visuals, Sea Fever offers a unique and gripping take on the dangers lurking beneath the surface.

  • Directed by : Neasa Hardiman

The Sea Beast

The Sea Beast

This animated adventure film follows a group of misfit marine creatures who band together to rescue their captured friend and bring him home from a sinister aquarium. Directed by Adam Bierman and Evan Tramel , The Sea Beast delivers a colorful, fun-filled, and heartwarming journey through an underwater world filled with humor, friendship, and action. With its vibrant animation, lovable characters, and engaging story, The Sea Beast is a delightful addition to the lost at sea genre for younger audiences.

  • Released : 2022
  • Directed by : Chris Williams
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In the middle of the ocean, no one can hear you scream.

Movies That Make You Scared to Go in the Water

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TV movie Abandoned follows the true story that swept New Zealand in 1989  — the extraordinary survival of four men after a trimaran capsized in the Pacific Ocean's treacherous swirls. The cast includes Peter Feeney, who plays self-assured skipper John Glennie, and Australian Dominic Purcell. This excerpt  — the first 12 minutes — sees the men board the Rose-Noëlle for a cruisy trip to Tonga, before struggling to see eye to eye after a freak wave turns their world upside down for 119 days. Their story of survival was bought to life on screen by director John Laing ( Beyond Reasonable Doubt ) and author Stephanie Johnson.

The physical aspects were extreme. We were in water — sometimes we had to lie in it for hours, other times completely submerged in it. We were on an upturned boat in relatively high seas for weeks, 10 hours a day. – Actor Greg Johnson on the making of Abandoned, Stuff website, 23 August 2015

Key Cast & Crew

Profile image for Peter Feeney

Peter Feeney

As: John Glennie

Profile image for Owen Black

Greg Johnson

Generic Profile image for Dominic Purcell

Dominic Purcell

Generic Profile image for Stephanie Johnson

Stephanie Johnson

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Produced by

Making Movies

Acknowledgements

Made with funding from  NZ On Air , in association with Television New Zealand

Development assistance from the NZ Film Commission

More Information

Watch the full TV movie, Making Movies website/Vimeo

Interview with actors Peter Feeney, Greg Johnson & Dominic Purcell, Stuff website, August 2015

Article on the Rose-Noëlle saga, The NZ Herald, September 2009

Rose-Noëlle author Jane Phare interviews survivor John Glennie, The NZ Herald, October 2009

Article on various accounts of the Rose-Noëlle saga, Up Country website, May 2014

Short clip from a TVNZ news report on efforts to find the Rose-Noëlle, Te Ara website

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<!-- Start NZ On Screen - Abandoned - Clip: Abandoned (trailer) Size: 585 by 410 --> <iframe width=" 585 " height=" 410 " style="width: 585px " src=" https://www.nzonscreen.com/embed/e81eb69668024194 " frameborder="0" allowfullscreen ></iframe> <!-- End NZ On Screen - Abandoned - Clip: Abandoned (trailer) -->

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movie about capsized sailboat

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movie about capsized sailboat

24 Movies Trapped At Sea

movie about capsized sailboat

Water, water everywhere, and not a damn way to get home. That’s this week’s gallery theme: Movies where we see people trapped on the open seas, inspired by  Adrift , starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin as two young lovers whose boat is incapacitated after sailing directly into a catastrophic hurricane (and with Claflin’s character suffering from a life-threatening injury). Likewise, the movies in this gallery see heroes under immense pier pressure when their boats get hijacked, destroyed, or worse of all, disappeared all together.

Note: Because a lot of movies fall under this theme, we’re not including submarine movies ( Das Boot ,  Below ,  Black Sea ) or movies where the heroes can generally head home at any time ( Jaws ,  The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou ).

movie about capsized sailboat

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Best Movies About Being Stranded at Sea

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The most annoying characters in otherwise perfect movies, the most unexpected cameos in deadpool & wolverine.

Looking back, there are a surprisingly large number of movies that are about being stranded at sea. There is good reason for this: when looking to make a truly hard-hitting movie, what could be more terrifying than the feelings of hopelessness and fear associated with being stranded, miles from land with chances of survival getting slimmer by the minute? Add in an extra threat of, say a human-eating shark, or even escalating friction with the other unfortunate souls you may be stranded with, and you have a recipe for pure terror.

Updated September 22, 2022: If you love a good pulse-pounding, stranded at sea film, you'll be happy to know we've updated this articles with additional content and titles.

The fear factor is upped by the fact that a lot of these stories are not wild fantastical tales, but are scenarios that feel far closer to home and are situations that anyone of us could potentially find ourselves in. In fact, a large percentage of these types of movies are based on true stories . Admittedly, due to the popularity of these gripping films, which can often be shot on a low budget, the market has become slightly oversaturated in recent years, with countless sequels and rip-offs flooding the scene, so to speak. With this in mind, below are 10 of the best movies about being stranded at sea.

10 Dead Calm

If you’re only going to feature three superb actors in your movie, you could do a lot worse than the combined greatness of Sam Neil, Nicole Kidman, and Billy Zane. While out sailing in an attempt to try to take their minds off the loss of their son, a married couple come across a stranded stranger. They offer kindness and help, but as the story progresses, it becomes apparent that not everything is as it seems with the stranger. A genuinely tense thriller, Dead Calm is a fine example of creating an engaging and exciting movie without needing a huge budget.

Not only has this group of pals found themselves capsized and stranded out at sea, they’re also being stalked by a great white shark. Unlike numerous shark-based movies before (and after) it, The Reef used real footage of sharks in the movie , according to Screen Rant , instead of practical or CGI effects, which always run the danger of making the sharks look unrealistic and, at times, downright ridiculous. Definitely one of the more genuinely scary shark flicks, The Reef never eases up on the tension, keeping viewers glued to the edge of their seats for the entire 90-minute run time. Maybe it's not the most original movie on the list, but certainly one of the most exciting.

Related: Exclusive: Andrew Traucki and Teressa Liane of The Reef: Stalked on Their Allegorical Shark Movie

Titanic is proof that ‘bigger’ is not always better. The RMS Titanic was carrying 3,320 people when it was destroyed by a giant iceberg, the majority of who did not survive the aftermath. The real-life tragedy portrayed in James Cameron’s harrowing 1997 movie manages to perfectly capture the feelings of fear, panic and hopelessness as we spend time in those final moments with the passengers stranded at sea after the ship begins sinking.

Obviously, the sheer scale of death and destruction was certainly impactful, but it felt even more personal as we spend nearly 3 hours with the two lead characters, Rose and Jack, following their forbidden romance and rooting for them throughout. After allowing the audience to develop this tightly intimate bond with these two characters, we’re left devastated as, spoiler alert, it does not end well.

7 Open Water

Yet another movie on this list made all the more terrifying by the fact that it is based, albeit rather loosely, on a true story. This time, Open Water concentrates on an American couple who go scuba diving while on vacation, but find themselves stranded at sea and surrounded by sharks as their tour boat accidentally leaves them behind. Shot out at sea on an ultra-low budget, this actually adds an immense sense of realism and intensity, creating for a nerve racking 80 minutes in which the viewers hearts are in their mouths the entire time.

6 White Squall

A white squall is the occurrence of a sudden, violent windstorm at sea, one which hits without warning. The lack of the usual warning signs, like black clouds, makes them near impossible to avoid when out at sea, as evidenced by the skipper (played assuredly by Jeff Bridges, in one of his more overlooked performances) and his class of students on a school sailing trip in White Squall .

Needless to say, the result was catastrophic, ending in tragedy, and the skipper is put on trial. Based on the real-life sailing boat the Albatross, which sank in 1961, director Ridley Scott not only focuses on the trauma of the event itself, but also spends plenty of time developing the characters beforehand in a coming-of-age style plot which makes the tragedy even more hard hitting for the audience.

5 All Is Lost

Legendary silver screen icon Robert Redford headlines the Golden Globe-winning survival drama All Is Lost , in which the Hollywood great portrays a veteran mariner who finds his vessel adrift at sea following a debilitating collision with a storage container. The man must fight to survive a vicious incoming storm without the help of any navigation equipment or a radio to call out for help, and the riveting picture chronicles his relentless crusade to make it out alive and back to his loved ones. AlI Is Lost features almost no dialogue and only utilizes Redford's immense talent as the sole character of the film , bringing the lost mariner's desperation and fear to life in a spectacularly moving fashion.

Like Titanic , this is based on a real-life event , just on a much smaller scale. No less harrowing for the viewer, Adrift stars Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin as a couple who are stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean after Hurricane Raymond in 1983, and must find their way to Hawaii with a damaged boat and no radio.

Like James Cameron did with Titanic , the film not only focuses on the disaster and survival aspects of the story , but also highlights the intimate bond and romance between the two leads, allowing the viewers to become fully invested in their well-being. Even from the safety of your own couch, the rollercoaster of emotions you’re taken through is mentally draining — one can only imagine what it would have been like to have been there, lost at sea.

3 The Shallows

Inspired by her husband Ryan Reynold’s minimalist movie Buried , which takes place entirely in a coffin, Blake Lively teamed up with director Jaume Collet-Serra and writer Anthony Jaswinski for this stranded at sea survival horror. This time around, the story follows a surfer (played by Lively) instead of a sailor, who gets stranded out at sea, only to find herself under threat from a great white shark.

Interestingly, the majority of The Shallows was shot in a tank using blue screens for effects, with the shark being entirely computer generated. Somehow, the result is still ultra-realistic, making you feel as if you are right there in the water with her, kind of the Blair Witch Project of stranded at sea shark movies.

2 The Poseidon Adventure

The very notion of being lost at sea is terrifying all in itself, but throw in the element of a capsized ship on the verge of being completely consumed by water and the stakes get even more dicey. The '70s classic disaster film The Poseidon Adventure centers on the titular ocean liner as it is tragically overturned by a destructive tsunami, trapping its unsuspecting inhabitants and leaving them to figure out how to escape the stranded ship.

Related: These Movies Will Make You Second Guess Ever Getting on a Boat

The spine-tingling flick went on to earn 8 Academy Award nominations and won two, with critics lauding it for its pulse-pounding tension, outstanding visual effects and commanding performances. Since its release, The Poseidon Adventure has gone on to become a cult film and is a knockout example of the disaster genre.

1 Life of Pi

One of the most critically lauded movies of its year, Life of Pi was nominated for a total of 11 Oscars, winning four. The premise revolves around a 16-year-old Indian boy named Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) who is stranded on a lifeboat with a dangerous Bengal tiger after surviving an ocean liner shipwreck. The movie is captivating from start to finish: we follow Pi’s tale as the pair learn to trust each other in this visually stunning masterclass in storytelling. Its incredible technology and deeply allegorical substance results in one of the most mesmerizing movies about begin stranded at sea.

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The Reef

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The reef (2010).

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Pray that you drown first.

A great white shark hunts the crew of a capsized sailboat along the Great Barrier Reef.

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A review by Tejas Nair

Written by tejas nair on october 17, 2020.

I can't say that The Reef is a perfect, realistic shark movie but it comes very close. It is also the first one I have seen so far where humans are bare in the water and not supported by a boat (Jaws (1975)) or a cage (47 Meters Down (2017)), for instance. It keeps the suspense throughout, making you guess a shark entry here or a panic attack there. Decent performances by the cast and a swift screenplay, The Reef will make for a good late-night watch with the family. (Grade B-). TN.

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4 Sailors’ 118 Days at Sea: Survival Tale or Hoax?

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Four sailors’ survival at sea for 118 days in an upturned trimaran ranks as one of the world’s greatest survival stories--or one of its greatest hoaxes.

If the tale is to be believed, the trimaran Rose-Noelle was flipped over on June 4 by a huge wave in a 60-knot gale three days out of New Zealand’s South Island. It made land on Sept. 30.

Despite losing up to 40 pounds each, the three New Zealanders and an American survived the stormy southern winter in good shape--such good shape that some people doubt their story.

An official investigation into whether the sailors’ story checks out--and if so, why search and rescue efforts were so far astray--is not expected to be completed for another three weeks.

The investigator has declined comment until his inquiry is completed. But Capt. Melvyn Bowen, who conducted an initial investigation, is convinced that the four are telling the truth.

After visiting the wreckage on isolated Great Barrier Island north of Auckland where the Rose-Noelle drifted ashore, Bowen said he found convincing evidence, such as marine growth on the boat’s topside. “Personally I don’t feel it is a hoax,” he said.

But some questions linger. Local yachtsmen ask why, after such a long time at sea in appalling conditions, the men had no pressure-point or salt sores, which are almost universal for a long sea voyage.

Other points baffling investigators are how two radio messages were supposedly received from the Rose-Noelle by another yacht after the flip and how the Rose-Noelle drifted from 140 miles off the east coast of New Zealand around the top of the island to the west coast.

The pattern of the currents should have taken it farther east toward South America.

Plausible explanations to these mysteries have been suggested and, although skepticism remains, it is hard to imagine a motive for a hoax.

Skipper John Glennie has signed contracts for his story but the payments are hardly likely to compensate for the $145,000 loss of his 40-foot trimaran, which was smashed to bits on rocks.

“All those who think it’s a hoax are bloody idiots,” said crewman Phillip Hofman. Asked if there was any conclusive evidence, he said: “Yeah, the fact that I know we did it and three other people did it.”

The story as they tell it is a remarkable one.

Their 118 days adrift exactly equals the time Maurice and Maralyn Bailey of England spent in a tiny life raft and dinghy after their yacht was pierced by a whale off the Galapagos Islands in 1973.

Other than the undocumented story of a Hong Kong seaman who was reported to have been picked up during World War II after 133 days adrift, it is a record for survival at sea.

Here is their story:

After the boat capsized, they spent their first day trapped in the cabin. Then they hacked a hole in the hull and spent a nightmare four months crammed in a space the size of a double mattress.

For the first month water was desperately short, augmented by soft drinks and meager rations.

But after they rigged a system for collecting rain water, conditions improved and were considerably better, although colder, than those experienced by the Baileys.

Marine growth on the boat attracted more and more fish, and a large grouper even swam into the cabin one day.

“Toward the end we were eating better than you guys at home,” crewman Rick Hellriegel told a news conference on his return.

Glennie dived into the main cabin to retrieve more and more equipment. They had a gas cooker and even rigged up a barbecue on fine days.

But relations were strained. American Jim Nalepka said tension seethed among the four, who barely knew each other before the voyage. He and Hellriegel said they never wanted to see Glennie again. Glennie said the feeling is mutual.

Battles, not physical, were fought over half a biscuit or over who could sit on the well-lit side of the makeshift cabin where reading was possible.

“At one time, one of us, I won’t mention the person, was a liability, but we worked really hard to get that person out of that position. We thought the worst, you know, slitting his throat and pushing him overboard. But we did that in jest,” Nalepka said.

Despite the friction, the four knew they had to depend on each other and gradually jelled into a team. Hellriegel said it was a great help just having the body heat of four people during freezing winter weather.

Five or six times they were forced by the weather to stay below for days on end. That’s when spirits sagged and tensions ran high.

“Cabin fever, we called it. That’s a real condition,” Nalepka said. “Fighting over a half a biscuit seems trivial but no, it was too real. It was classic what we went through.”

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This Is the Most Horrifying Shark Story of All Time

Tiger shark.

It’s easy, by default, to describe any disturbing story as the stuff of your worst nightmares — accidentally following an embarrassing Instagram account, losing 27 contacts in your eye , getting trapped in an elevator for a week . But the true story at the center of Shark Week’s first original movie is more horrifying than any Jaws movie. It’s official: Getting stranded and watching sharks slowly kill off my friends is now my worst nightmare.

The story, which inspired The Discovery Channel’s Capsized: Blood in the Water , dates back to 1982, when a billionaire hired a group of five friends to sail his yacht, named Trashman , from Maryland to Florida, Newsweek reports. Not long into the journey, the group suffered their first maritime nightmare when a violent storm caused the yacht to capsize, leaving the passengers stranded on a small dinghy without food or water. What would unfold over the next five days is horrifying. Per Popular Mechanics , the blood from one passenger’s sustained injuries drew the massive sharks to the boat, but she wasn’t the first to die. Instead, the first victim was a passenger who, delirious from subsisting on seawater and alcohol, jumped in the sea after thinking he had seen land. Except … there was no land. There were, however, tiger sharks.

“All of a sudden we just hear this shrill scream,” Deborah Scaling-Kiley, one of the survivors, said in the documentary I Shouldn’t Be Alive , per The Sun . “Blood-curdling. Then it was over, silence. There was no crying, nothing. There was no doubt what got him. The sharks got him.”

It didn’t stop there. Not long after, another man on the boat jumped into the water after notifying the others that he was going to buy beer and cigarettes. While the remaining passengers tried to stop him, they were ultimately unsuccessful, and they felt another shark devour him underneath the boat. Then, the passenger who had sustained injuries during the capsize died from blood poisoning. While one passenger, Brad Cavanaugh, considered eating her body, Newsweek reports , Cavanaugh and Scaling-Kiley decided to give their deceased friend a burial at sea. She, too, was eaten by sharks.

After five days of horrific conditions, the two survivors managed to flag down a Russian cargo ship, which saved them as they were on the brink of death. (While Scaling-Kiley died of unknown causes in 2014, Cavanaugh is reportedly still alive, making his living off an unimaginable career, given this experience: He’s a mariner.)

Pretty sure I, uh, won’t be watching this movie.

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NBC Connecticut

Search to resume Wednesday for 2 people missing after deadly boat crash in Old Saybrook

A motorboat carrying nine people struck a jetty at the mouth of the connecticut river monday night, by andrew masse and nbc connecticut staff • published september 2, 2024 • updated on september 3, 2024 at 11:17 pm.

One person has died after a boat crash in Old Saybrook Monday night, two others are missing and five people are in the hospital. The search for the two missing men was suspended overnight and will resume Wednesday morning.

Nine people were on the 31-foot motorboat that struck a jetty at the mouth of the Connecticut River around 9:15 p.m. Monday while returning from Block Island, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection EnCon Police.

Free 24/7 Connecticut news stream: Watch NBC CT wherever you are

Several 911 calls came in about the crash and rescue crews found the boat half submerged and significantly damaged.

One man was found dead in the vessel and six people were taken to the hospital, according to DEEP. One person is in critical condition, Captain Keith Williams, of Connecticut Environmental Police, said Tuesday morning. They believe that person was driving the boat, but they have not confirmed that.

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Williams said he believes one person has been released from the hospital. The extent of the injuries the others sustained has not been released.

The investigation is ongoing, but Williams said they believe all nine people are friends who went to Block Island for the day.

The capsized boat was recovered from the river on Tuesday and it was pulled from the water around 11:30 a.m.

Williams said Tuesday morning that the tide was coming in when the boat crashed.

movie about capsized sailboat

New signs and exit numbers coming for Route 15

movie about capsized sailboat

1 person taken to hospital, 1 cat dead after Meriden house fire

Multiple agencies, including police and fire crews from several nearby towns, the State Police Dive Unit, and a helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard station on Cape Cod were searching and the search was suspended overnight.

It resumed Tuesday morning and continued for the majority of the day before suspending at 7:30 p.m.

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COMMENTS

  1. Abandoned (2015)

    Abandoned: Directed by John Laing. With Dominic Purcell, Peter Feeney, Owen Black, Greg Johnson. In 1989 the trimaran Rose Noelle set sail from Picton, New Zealand, bound for Tonga with four crew. After a freak wave capsized the yacht, they drifted for 119 days before landing on Great Barrier Island.

  2. Capsized: Blood in the Water True Story

    Discovery's Capsized: Blood in the Water is based on the harrowing true story of a sailing crew stuck adrift for days in shark-infested waters. The full-length film marks Shark Week's first-ever original movie, although some details were changed compared to the disastrous event.. Sharing the story of the 1982 fateful trip, Capsized: Blood in the Water showcases how much a person can endure ...

  3. Capsized: Blood in the Water

    Capsized: Blood in the Water is an American biographical natural horror-survival film, based on a true story from 1982. Roel Reiné directed the film, from a script written by Stephen David, with the story co-written by David, Tim K. Kelly and Jonathan Soule. The film plot centers around a small boat crew aboard a private yacht who are stranded in shark infested waters, following a storm that ...

  4. The Perfect Storm (film)

    The Perfect Storm (film) - Wikipedia

  5. Is 'Capsized: Blood in the Water' a True Story? Settle ...

    The movie is based on a tragedy that occurred in 1982. According to National Post, it all started when a boat owner hired a crew to bring his yacht, 'Trashman' to his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. from Portland, Maine.However, it capsized during a storm and sunk off the coast of North Carolina by Morehead City.

  6. Movie Adrift's Harrowing Real-Life Story: 41 Days Stranded at Sea

    Then keeping your mind active.". Ashcraft survived 41 days adrift in the Pacific, subsisting on peanut butter and willpower, before she approached Hilo, Hawaii and was picked up by a Japanese ...

  7. The 40+ Best Lost At Sea Movies

    The 40+ Best Lost At Sea Movies

  8. Triangle (2009)

    Triangle: Directed by Christopher Smith. With Melissa George, Joshua McIvor, Jack Taylor, Michael Dorman. Five friends set sail and their yacht is overturned by a strange and sudden storm. A mysterious ship arrives to rescue them, and what happens next cannot be explained.

  9. Abandoned

    Abandoned - TV movie Abandoned follows the true story that swept New Zealand in 1989 — the extraordinary survival of four men after a trimaran capsized in the Pacific Ocean's treacherous swirls. The cast includes Peter Feeney, who plays self-assured skipper John Glennie, and Australian Dominic Purcell. This excerpt — the first 12 minutes — sees the men board the Rose-Noëlle for a cruisy ...

  10. Watch Capsized: Blood in the Water Streaming Online

    Based on a true story, in October 1982 a yacht bound for Florida capsizes during an unexpected storm, leaving the crew to drift for days in the cold, shark-infested waters. They must do everything in their power to survive as the sharks hunt them. ... About this Movie. Capsized: Blood in the Water. Based on a true story, in October 1982 a yacht ...

  11. The Poseidon Adventure (1972 film)

    The Poseidon Adventure (1972 film)

  12. Ship disaster films

    Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. ... When a group of friends fail to lower the ladder of their boat, they find themselves stranded in the surrounding waters and struggle to survive. ... the luxury ocean liner Poseidon capsizes after ...

  13. 24 Movies Trapped At Sea

    24 Movies Trapped At Sea

  14. Best Movies About Being Stranded at Sea

    2 The Poseidon Adventure. 20th Century Fox. The very notion of being lost at sea is terrifying all in itself, but throw in the element of a capsized ship on the verge of being completely consumed ...

  15. The True Story of Adrift

    The True Story of Adrift - Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp ...

  16. Capsized: Blood in the Water (TV Movie 2019)

    Capsized: Blood in the Water: Directed by Roel Reiné. With Tyler Blackburn, Joshua Close, Virginia Del Sol, Josh Duhamel. After a yacht bound for Florida capsizes during an unexpected storm, its crew is left to drift for days in the chilling waters of the Atlantic where they become prey to a group of tiger sharks.

  17. The Reef (2010)

    A great white shark hunts the crew of a capsized sailboat along the Great Barrier Reef. A great white shark hunts the crew of a capsized sailboat along the Great Barrier Reef. Movies. Popular; ... realistic shark movie but it comes very close. It is also the first one I have seen so far where humans are bare in the water and not supported by a ...

  18. 4 Sailors' 118 Days at Sea: Survival Tale or Hoax?

    Oct. 22, 1989 12 AM PT. REUTERS. AUCKLAND, New Zealand —. Four sailors' survival at sea for 118 days in an upturned trimaran ranks as one of the world's greatest survival stories--or one of ...

  19. Best Boating Movies: 39 Top Sailing & Yachting Films To Watch

    In 1989 the trimaran yacht, Rose Noelle, set sail from New Zealand, heading for Tonga with a four-man crew on board. The vessel capsizes due to a freak wave, and the crew are left adrift. The crew survived for over 119 days at sea before finally landing on Great Barrier Island. 31 - Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World (2017)

  20. Rose-Noëlle

    Rose-Noëlle was a trimaran that capsized at 6 AM on June 4, 1989, in the southern Pacific Ocean off the coast of New Zealand. [1] [2] Four men (John Glennie, James Nalepka, Rick Hellriegel and Phil Hoffman) survived adrift on the wreckage of the ship for 119 days.[3]Landing place of the Rose-Noëlle at Little Waterfall Bay on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand

  21. Horrifying True Story at Center of Shark Week's 'Capsized'

    But the true story at the center of Shark Week's first original movie is more horrifying than any Jaws movie. It's official: Getting stranded and watching sharks slowly kill off my friends is now my worst nightmare. The story, which inspired The Discovery Channel's Capsized: Blood in the Water, dates back to 1982, when a billionaire hired ...

  22. Top 30 Favourite Ship/Boat Movies

    Top 30 Favourite Ship/Boat Movies

  23. 1 dead, 2 people missing after boat crash in Old Saybrook

    The capsized boat was recovered from the river on Tuesday and it was pulled from the water around 11:30 a.m. Williams said Tuesday morning that the tide was coming in when the boat crashed. Local

  24. Sort by Popularity

    Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India ... 2 young men are attempting to set a world record rowing the Atlantic when a freak wave capsizes their boat, and a family day out in the snow almost ends in tragedy when a dad has a sledging accident. Directors: Paul ...