66 Days Adrift: A True Story of Disaster and Survival on the Open Sea [Paperback]

William Butler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 18, 2005

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

Editorial Reviews

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (January 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071438742
• ISBN-13: 978-0071438742
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,038,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bill Butler, born in Havana of a Cuban mother and a US father, grew up in Cuba. Starting in his early teens, he developed a deep attachment for the oceans of the world over which he has logged more than 90,000 nautical miles. Exiled from Cuba in 1960 he ended up in the Philippines where he got a chance, once again, to return to the sea. Aboard Siboney, a hardy 39 foot Robert Clark cutter, he and his family survived a full night battling a 90-knot typhoon in Manila Bay. The full story from three perspectives can be perused on http://www.wbutler.com/. When GE transferred Bill to Venezuela, Siboney followed on a friends sugar carrier.

In 1989, with a new wife and business in decline, Bill closed shop and headed out aboard Siboney on a 'round-the-world' cruise. Two months later, a large pod of pilot whales confused Siboney for an intruding whale and a menace to their young, broke the hull of Siboney. Bill and Simonne ended up adrift in a four-man inflatable raft out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Sixty-Six harrowing days and nights followed. Violent storms with thirty-foot waves threatened to swallow all. Masses of sharks continuously whacked their six-foot plastic raft as Bill battled them continuously. Bill and Simonne struggled to stay alive as they fought insurmountable odds. She was sure they would die. He was sure they would live. Lovable arguments continued until the end. Their full 100% true story is contained in 66 DAYS ADRIFT, published by McGraw-Hill.

October 2010

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Overall disappointment, August 20, 2005

By 

Gini B (Missouri United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 66 Days Adrift: A True Story of Disaster and Survival on the Open Sea (Paperback)

I agree with whichever reviewer wrote that this was a great story poorly written.

I am so happy that the Butlers survived their ordeal. I think that this story had a lot of potential. I know it must have been difficult to fill all those pages with exciting prose, but it does get monotonous after awhile. The dialogue is excrutiating to slog through. After reading about two weeks worth of Simone's whining and Bill's chest-puffing denial, I would have wanted to be eaten by sharks. And if Simone didn't divorce Bill for his behavior before this ordeal, she should have after she read what he had to say about how great she'd look after she starved for a few more weeks on the raft. What a schmuck! As we say here in the midwest, the man needs killin'!

Would have loved to have seen photos of the Butlers, their boat, their family, the raft after their rescue, etc. Also would like to know more about why whales would sink a boat and how many times this type of thing has happened in the past.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An exciting tale but a bit scary, March 31, 2005

By 

Sue G "Sue G" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 66 Days Adrift: A True Story of Disaster and Survival on the Open Sea (Paperback)

I've been sailing quite a few times and fortunately every time the sail boat has stayed afloat. I can't imagine this scenario but I do remember the news reports back when it happened so I was interested to find this book about the Butlers and their story of survival. I always wondered how they managed to survive out on the ocean in a little raft without food or water. It's definitely a "survival" story. They managed to survive for 66 days and nights in the middle of the Pacific ocean after their sailboat was sunk by a pod of whales who thought it was a threat. They went through several near-death experiences while on the raft, and many near rescues which must have been very frustrating. Apparently things alternated between boredom and life-and-death struggles until they were finally rescued on the 66th day. If you are a sailor, survivalist, or interested in nature, this book may be of interest.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You just can't put it down, March 31, 2005

By 

Karen E. Williams - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 66 Days Adrift: A True Story of Disaster and Survival on the Open Sea (Paperback)

This absolutely hair-raising account of 2 people adrift at sea for what seems forever will keep you rivieted to the pages right through the last sentence. I did think it ended sort of abruptly and would like to have had more information on what they found about about search efforts and what was going on behind the scenes with those left on land wondering what had happened to them. You almost can't believe when the time came that they were actually rescued. How they maintained their fragile sanity during the 66 days is truly wonderous.