Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, a British couple, set sail on their yacht Auralyn in 1973, dreaming of adventure.

On March 4, their 31-foot boat was struck by a whale in the Pacific, sinking rapidly.
They escaped to a small life raft and dinghy, surviving 117–118 days adrift (sources vary slightly due to counting).
They collected rainwater for drinking   and caught fish, turtles, seabirds, even small sharks using handmade hooks.

After drifting ~1,500 miles, they were rescued by a South Korean fishing vessel on June 30, 1973.
Their incredible tale of resilience became known as 117 Days Adrift.