Jeff’s Reviews > Staying Alive! 117 Days Adrift > Status Update

"...frank madness is unusual unless the castaway has been drinking seawater..."

Everything we know about modern medicine, survival and the human anatomy, still: "Although the feet were equally exposed
to the elements the toe nails did not show the same discoloration, and, whilst various suggestions and explanations
for the phenomenon have been offered, no final conclusions
have yet been reached. " - Surgeon of the Royal Navy Institute of Naval Medicine

Another interesting fact about fish, which
may be of significance in the Bailey's case since they showed
few signs of scurvy when rescued, is that the relatively small
amount of vitamin C in fish is concentrated mainly in the
eyes, brain and pancreas, all of which they consumed with
relish.

Protein digestion and the elimination of the inevitable waste products is costly in terms of water requirements, whilst sugar is not demanding in this respect. For this reason, amongst others, it is usual to include sugar in survival packs rather than protein foods.

"Many would stop to drop gifts on our table. Toothpaste, clothes, soap, toothbrushes, chocolate, biscuits and cosmetics for Maralyn. Some of these were presents intended for their families in Korea. The bosun made a gift of his only belts to hold up our trousers, whilst he improvised with a necktie for his own."

No desperate bid to keep the dinghy this time.

Very cool that they released their last two turtles.

Interesting difference: "Not once did sharks come close during the killing
of fish, turtle or birds."

Interesting that the Bailey's also had long periods of arguments and resentment, but it sounds like it was more balanced than with the Robertsons. Baileys suffered more from dysentery and foul water. Both had to constantly bail.

The structure of the book, alternating between viewpoints and padding every other page with a photo equates to about 75 pages of writing from each. Flaws are harder to ignore.

Apparently the spinefish is 10-15 inches long, mottled brown and white, with tender flesh--and "rather stupid looking." As opposed to the pensive salmon or the intellectual grouper. "Marylyn did not care for the idea of swimming away from the life raft."