Survive the Savage Sea

by Dougal Robertson

In June 1972 Dougal Robertson's yacht with his family aboard was attacked by killer whales in the Pacific Ocean and sank in seconds. This book is the story of their fight for survival.

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival, Adventure, Travel, Memoir, History, Nautical

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[A Jaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am maybe not qualified to review this book as the author is my father, but that should not detract from the fact that this is a powerful story, and an inspiration to many wether they are seafarers or not. A diluted version has been a part of national curriculum english studies in many countries including USA and Australia. There was a film made for television, and The National Geographic did a docudrama, and other TV stations did programmes over the years.
It is one of the greatest survival epics of all time, maybe due to the fact that the story involves children , and it had the happy ending that everyone is grateful for.
If you want to catch up with the family we have a Survive the Savage Sea Facebook page with old photos and extras from the family archives.

[Trin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The true story of a family—father (the author), mother, adult son, twin 12-year-old boys, and a twentysomething friend of theirs—who escaped their sinking yacht and then survived for 37 days on the open ocean. Thirty-seven days. This is as harrowing as you would imagine, and Robertson discusses it all with an amazing, almost-flat, frankness. Down to details like the necessity of turtle oil enemas, so if you're at all squeamish, I recommend staying away. ;-) Though of course, this book played into two of my greatest fears—drowning and sharks—and I found it fascinating. The bulk of the book, describing in detail those 37 days and the many brave and innovative things the Robertson family did to survive, is nigh-unputdownable. This is unfortunately followed by an extra 40 pages or so describing how YOU TOO could survive the savage sea, and I found this less interesting, because a) that is not a situation I plan to get myself into anytime soon, and b) so much of what the last few hundred pages taught was that the only real way to survive is to be able to adapt to the specific circumstances you happen to find yourself in, and there's really no way to predict or plan for that. Also, as with all first person, true-story narratives, there's always a risk that the author will reveal something unsavory about themselves through their POV; I feel I should point out that there are a few instances of this, as Robertson seems majorly down on formal education and at one point refers his wife's "feminine irrationality"—It was the '70s! I kept trying to remind myself. A poor excuse. But if you're interested at all in survival stories or like scaring yourself with tales of sharks nipping at people's ankles, this book is incredibly gripping.

[Bart Breen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring with a Message

There are books that stand out in a person's life. This is such a book for me.

I read this book back in the 1970's as a teenager. The story, images and lessons from it still stand out in my mind years later. That is a measure of the impact that it had on me and may have on others. I wasn't aware then how deep that went. Years later I am able to recount a great deal from that read despite the intervening time. That is a measure of its impact and the vivid nature of the images and experiences recounted.

This is a story of survival. It is a true story. A family on a boat is set adrift when a pod of killer whales destroys their boat and they are set adrift. How they survive on a day to day basis learning the skills and discovering the hidden resources is progressively told.

More than a dull recounting of the challenges that they face and the rescue that ultimately comes, this is a book that explores the relationships between family members as they reach within themselves to survive the storms, the sun, the sharks, dehydration and every other challenge that an unforgiving environment can present.

I recommend this book for anyone, but in particular this is the type of book that can have an impact in the life of a young person who reads it. Especially in our western culture which is so overwrought by materialism and a sense of entitlement, this book has the ability, more-so than many others to pierce the veil of that thinking and present a story that is both riveting and also life-changing without coming across as moralistic or preaching.

Minimum age to read should probably be about 12 or 13 as some of the situations and stories recounted are stark. But they are realistic and add to the impact and flavor of this excellent book.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A singular book--only a Scottish-farmer/master seaman/stoic lost at sea with his entire family could have survived and then reflected upon his feat in the restrained style and grand manner he dusts off for this. The captain/chief castaway/author comes across as both the one guy you would want to get stuck out to sea with and the one guy you'd never in a million years want to get stuck out to sea with.

This book also points out how quickly the world changes. Survive 38 days lost at sea in 1972 and get a 200-page best-selling book and made-for-TV movie starring Robert Urich. Survive 38 days lost at sea in 2009, and you'd get 36 hours in the news cycle, a tabloid exclusive, and maybe a reality TV show--or at least a guest appearance on 'Survivor.'

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book more than 15 times now. Sometimes, in between reading other books I will pick it up and read it again. Why?, I don't know. There is just something about the book that I enjoy. I can say no more than that !!

[Jerry Wei]

This book was basically based on determination and some survival skills as the Father is very strict. This book relates to me as I never give up in swimming, no matter what happens or what will go down. I have been swimming for a long time, just like how long they were out at sea, a month that seemed like an entirnity. The only difference was I never swam for survival as I usually just swim for fun. Therefore, I this book semi-relates towards me, as a human being.

[Ramsey Hootman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest survival stories of all time. This is a re-read; my mother actually read it to me when I was a child of about 8 or so. Recently I was searching for something to do while sitting up with my toddler, and I had stashed this away with several other books I plan to read to him once he's old enough to understand. What was intended to be a quick flip through instantly turned into a "MUST READ NOW." I recalled the broad outlines of the account, but had not remembered how incredibly gripping every last page of this book is.

If there's one thing that stands out, to me, it's the fact that *everyone* survives. There are many mishaps and setbacks, but no fatal tragedies. Dougal Robertson and his wife have got to be two of the most capable people on the face of the planet, and the fact that they manage to get their sons and another young man through this ordeal alive is nothing short of miraculous.

Not much more to say beyond that... I'd recommend this book to anyone.

[Keziah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely astounding story of survival. Shackleton-esque except in the Pacific and with children on board. I have immense respect for these guys for their guts and resourcefulness in surviving against the odds. An absolute page-turner that was responsible for many later nights than planned…! Not one to read if you’re squeamish though - minimal human injury involved but there’s a *lot* of killing of turtles and drinking their blood etc🤢

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to my nature when I saw this sea survival story I grabbed it to read. This interest I attribute to my dad and his friend Paul Strait (an adventurer and sailor).

This book did not disappoint, the author was articulate and brutally honest. It made me particularly sad when he, as Captain as well as spouse and father, was verbally cruel. However I will say he did not brag about his authority or outbursts, it was all woven in with description of their almost insurmountable offs and mounting despair.

A remarkable story for those longing for another gripping sea tale of ship wreck and survival.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

We met one of the young boys outside his Staffordshire farm some years later. His red setter had had pups and we wanted one. He invited us in for tea. A quiet, gentle boy who made quite an impression on us. It was only when we told my cousin that he said "Oh they're famous, they are."
I remember years before reading the story as I delivered papers up in Cumbria. Years later I was given an extract to teach as a reading exercise with a class. I don't remember how they did as a comprehension but it inspired some excellent creative writing. I'd completely forgotten about it until it came up, again unexpectedly, in a mention in Life of Pi.

[Jed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have heard and seen so many references to this book in the survival at sea/sailing genre, that I finally located a copy and put it on my shelf to be savored, like a fine wine; slowly. So, when I hit a slump this fall, I went to my favorite TBR shelf and dusted off a classic.

Dougal Robertson's writing is tight and not superfluous in the least. The book starts out with the bare basic's of a background and almost instantly launches into the Robertson family's incredible saga. He spends plenty of time describing what happened and how each person reacted. There is no whitewashing their actions and lays bare the gory details including his own shortcomings. Details such as deploying sea anchors, catching fish, fresh water, food, and rationing, the creatures encountered, their mental states, and how each person coped with the vagaries of shipwreck.

The chapters are laid out in Before, During, and After. Robertson devotes the final chapter to deconstructing what happened and making recommendations to future mariners should they find themselves in equally dire circumstances, as well as recommendations to life saving equipment manufacturers and setting priorities for the castaway.

A relatively short read but Robertson does a great job of bringing the reader along on an impossible journey. A bit dated as it happened in 1972, but still relevant today. Such a fun read for the armchair adventurer and blue water sailors alike. The book was out of print for many years but has since been reprinted several times as recently as 2002.

If you're an adventure lover and haven't read Survive The Savage Sea, or find yourself in a reading slump, do yourself a favor and add this wonder filled book to your library. It pulled me out the doldrums!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, telling the story of a English family’s survival while adrift in the Pacific for 37 days after their sailboat was sunk by orcas off the Galápagos Islands. It was written by the father & includes his daily account of their challenges & is told from his perspective alone. I think it would have been a much better book if it had included everyone’s voices. I spent some time Googling the family in search of a “where are they now” sort of article but didn’t come up with anything of the sort, which was a little disappointing. The eldest son did write his own book about the experience, including information about their whole trip around the world & not just the last 37 days. It would be nice to read this story from another perspective, so I’ll keep my eyes peeled for it.

[Lee Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating enjoyable read. Tasty turtles!

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Survive the Savage Sea is a story of the author's experiences surviving at sea with his family when his yacht sunk in the Pacific Ocean on June 15th, 1972. With his wife, his three sons and a student they'd taken onboard, Dougal Robertson has to fight his way in an environment that has had hundreds of years to adapt.
The tale is told in striking detail and with brutal honesty that leaves the reader absolutely no room to doubt the authenticity. As you read, you find it hard to believe that so much could happen in such a short period of time and you just pray that they don't come up against yet another hurdle. With each new day, you can just see them all get weaker and weaker and it's astonishing that they could still find the energy to push on in search of land after one week, two weeks, three and then four weeks at sea.
A sea story told with very little boating garb, Survive the Savage Sea is a serious story of a family's will to "get these boys to land." I would definitely recommend it to anyone with a love of adventure mixed with harsh reality.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a wide gulf between the terror, hunger, and thirst Robertson family experienced at sea and the pleasant time I had reading this book. That may be because the author chose to tell this tale without suspense or any narrative gimmicks. Instead this is just a day by day by day, repeat 38 times, account of surviving at sea in a raft and dinghy. My safe life on solid ground is so full of choices every day, too many inputs, and too many things to do (or that I think I have to do), that I found it relaxing to read about a very constrained set of choices and duties (that really do have to be done)-- catch fish and turtles, patch boat, scare away the sharks, navigate, and pray for rain.

If you ever find yourself on a reality show in which you have to be stuck in a raft at sea and you get to choose a companion, choose Dougal Robertson, the Pacific Ocean's most competent man.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In June 1972, the Robertson's boat was attacked by killer whales and sank in 60 seconds. The six members of this family survive 37 days adrift in the Pacific, first in a rubber raft and then a fiberglass dingy. Without charts, compass, and with only 3 days worth of rations, they manage against 20 foot waves, sharks, thirst and starvation.

When I finished ADRIFT, I was on a hunt for more sea stories, so someone gave me this one to read. This certainly satisfied my interest, proving to be another compelling read. What I found particularly interesting is the three sea survival stories together. Survive the Savage Sea is about a family's survival, whereas ADRIFT is single man's plight and ALBATROSS (now called UNTAMED SEAS) is survival amongst a group of strangers.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good adventure/survival story. Thanks to this book, I still think about turtle eggs and coffee enemas whenever I'm in a boat!

[Ayun Halliday · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in preparation for visiting To Feel Something That Was Not Of Our World, an installation by one of my favorite artists, Nina Katchadourian, who has read this book every year since she was 7. Eventually, she channeled her obsession into making to scale representations of the two tiny crafts in which the family were adrift for 38 days, the sea life they saw (and considered themselves fortunate when they bagged one to eat raw), bottles, and other items from their days at sea.

I went into it thinking like, "Well, this is necessary homework to help me get more out of the experience" but it was truly captivating.

And because my copy was checked out of a NYC library, and I was catching the installation in London, I had the pleasure of hauling its hard backed carcass around the UK and Portugal for nearly a month ... not QUITE the ordeal the Robertson family endured, but still.

The teenage son from the book attended the opening, having collaborated enthusiastically with Nina on the creation of the work...but I was too shy and he too surrounded by other admirers for me to approach him. I did note with interest that he published his OWN account, years later, in which he corrected his father's record. Things got tense in that little dinghy, and there are at least 2 sides to every story.

Here's a link to the exhibit, including a 3D tour and some audio that accompanied the various pieces.

https://cclarkgallery.com/exhibitions...

[Dave Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good holiday fodder, with an interesting twist … the boys own adventure stuff of the sinking and then the endurance challenges of the subsequent decamping to first a life raft then the tender with few provisions and the constant threat of dehydration, this book also reveals much about the author and by the end, though they all survived his account let’s slip many clues as to his underlying personality, and IMHO he ends up revealing himself to be a true arsehole … his descriptions of striking of both Douglas his son, and Robin, the unlucky student who had jumped on board in Panama to crew the leg to New Zealand are most telling, and then through reading up on the story confirmed by discovering that Douglas subsequently wrote his own account of the incident and voyages prior to the sinking, with the stated purpose of putting the record straight, or that the author and his wife separated shortly after he made a packet with the royalties from the book and film rights … he to a new boat and her and they’re family back to farming … to my mind his true nature might have helped him and the the others survive the trial, but it also destroyed the very things he was trying to save … and that made fascinating reading

[Water Moon · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s no doubt 6 people surviving 37 days after being stranded out on the open sea is incredible. Dougal’s account, however, is rather literal. While intelligent and considered, his recollections are often very specific and a blow-by-blow of things that happened. Even if the same or similar happened the day before. So it becomes very repetitive. I understand this is what they did. But recounting every single thing and explaining every piece of equipment isn't exciting to read. I found myself queasy reading about the graphic killing of marine life. I know they had to eat to survive. But killing turtles with a blunt knife. Eating all their eggs. Drinking the blood. Stabbing a shark in the eye. Whacking sharks that have not yet attacked as they pass. It made me sad and repulsed. I would have preferred more emotional insight to have been expressed. Yet there seemed a detachment from the writer. And I can't say his personality endears himself to the reader at all. Plenty of outdated remarks but that was just all-out creepy when he commented "a very shapely one...a blonde young German student". Yuck.

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently read 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea by Jonathan Franklin and wanted to see how this family survived their ordeal being lost at sea.

I thought it was interesting that the Robertson family picked up 'hitchhikers' at ports they stopped at and brought them to the next port. Most of the occupants on board the wayward vessel helped out in various ways. I am intrigued by the fact that Dougal's wife and twins weren't doing more to help in the first couple of weeks. Unless it wasn't talked about, they only started helping with bailing after 3 weeks. The passenger, Robin, also wasn't given many chores, and when he was it seemed he never did them well of to the satisfaction of others; but was he taught to do them properly by the family? He may have been new to the sea but I would have had him helping from the start. It seemed like Dougal wanted to handle everything with only little help from his oldest son.

They caught and ate what they could, letting nothing go to waste. Turtle oil enema? Eww.

[Griffin Barriss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grabbed this book from Mr. Moss' collection during the memorial period in the weeks after his death (non-Melrose people: Greg Moss, my high school AP Lang teacher died unexpectedly early in the 2015 school year [the year I took the course]. His wife and the the English department honored his legacy by gifting selections from his private library to students). The Old Man and the Sea/Hemingway more generally was always his favorite, and because of that I can see why this made it into his inventory (less stylistically, more the story of man-versus-nature, and struggling against physical discomfort with a singular mission). Reading the reviews spoiled this a little for me (just the # of days adrift, OBVIOUSLY the author at least lived because it is a first-person account lol). Read like fiction but was just a crazy story of survival and resilience against the odds! No idea how the Robertson family pulled it off, was great to read. Now if I am shipwrecked in the future I can at least take a thing or two away from this book.

[Jane Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents the best argument ever for the human race to have a streak of sheer bloody-mindedness. The account of the sinking of the family yacht Lucette just two days west of the Galapagos Islands. I marvelled at the level-headed and ingenious practicalities that enabled the survival of himself and his three sons, wife Lyn and extra crew Robin for 37 days in a life raft and dinghy, but the psychological journey is just as gripping. Robertson describes a crisis on the seventh day when their safety flares go unseen by a distant ship, and he decides 'we would have to make it on our own and to hell with them..I felt the bitter aggression of the predator fill my mind.' Despite the sometimes grim conditions Robertson's blunt narration can be quite funny.

[Peter Holz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says it all. An impressive tale of survival at sea in a small boat. What you would do if no one in the boat had the survival and sailing skills of the author is beyond me. Die probably. It was astonishing how many turtles kept bobbing up to inspect the boat. Curiosity kills the turtle as well as the cat. As well as the more familiar hardships associated with sunburn and lack of food and water, the author introduced a whole range of privations I had not previously thought of. Skin ulcers, absence of bowel movements and insanely cramped quarters. The author even provided a section at the back of the book offering advice to improve the chances of success for future castaways. He really seemed to enjoy the whole experience and sounded disappointed to be rescued.

[John Richens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was inspired to read this book by reading about the opening of Nancy Katchadourian's art exhibition in London, devoted to the this story. It is indeed a story of astonishing resourcefulness and resilience in the face of catastrophe and a fascinating exploration of group dynamics in a very cramped space. The lives of the family and their friend were under constant threat from sharks, storms, thirst and hunger. This story certainly deserves its classic status and the illustrations and photographs add an important dimension to appreciating the story. Dougal Robertson has to be admired for his seamanship and ability to keep his precarious vessels afloat and his improvised skills in ensuring that his family secured enough to eat and drink through their 38 day ordeal.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is methodical in his descriptions of everything from seafaring navigation to how he rigged his fishing lines to how he continually repaired the castaways' raft and dinghy. I thought the excess details would become boring -- they didn't. I thought the repetitive days (what else does one do on a dinghy in the middle of the ocean, after all?) would also become a blur -- they didn't. This family, and this story, was riveting from Page 1 through to the end. And Dougal's dry observations and approach to keeping his family safe is probably why they survived.

[Jon Shanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkable and inspirational account of survival against the odds, hundreds of miles from civilization or even a major shipping line for more than a month. Dougal Robinson tales their tale with a frankness which does not leave out any of the details from the physical and emotional strains that they went through whilst clinging onto the ever-diminishing hope of rescue or reaching land. Gripping stuff.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true story about being lost at sea. A family decides to sell everything they own to buy a boat and sail around the world. What a great learning experience for the kids! What could possibly go wrong? Somewhere out in the Pacific, hundreds of miles from land, a whale sinks their boat. No one knows they’re missing, so no one is out searching for them. They’ll have to save themselves. All they have is a rubber raft, a small dinghy, and a few tools and supplies - and determination.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was written in 1973 and I probably read it around 75 or so. It purports to be a true story of a shipwreck at sea and the resulting struggle for survival of the family who owned the ship. It's written by Dougal Robertson, the father of the family. The basic story is certainly true but some of the details always seemed a little "fantastic" to me. But whether it's literally true in all details or not, it was an exciting and gripping read for this teenaged boy (at the time).

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a true survival story and I happened to be reading this one when I had a boating accident (capsize) in the middle on the Pacific. And I was like "holy hell, we only have 2 minutes to get the life raft before the boat sinks". Luckily the boat flipped up again and all the water that had been coming in through potholes, drained out again. No holes in the hull. But this book made me feel like I was ready for anything! I could survive those savage seas! Drink that turtle blood! Yum!