The Robertson Family

Typically, while discussing marine survival, stories of one remarkable person who persisted when it seemed all hope was lost are told. The Robertson family's tale of survival in a 9-foot dinghy for 38 days before being rescued is another.

The Robertson family, which included Dougal and Lyn, their children Douglas, Sandy, and Neil, as well as a friend by the name of Robin, intended to sail around the globe in 1971. A killer whale pod capsized the boat 200 miles from the Galapagos Islands, which was a tragic turn of events.

Before entering the small dinghy, the family sought refuge on a life raft that deflated after 17 days. A 10-day supply of food was available to them. Before entering the small dinghy, the family sought refuge on a life raft that deflated after 17 days. They had a bag of onions, a tin of biscuits, 10 oranges, 6 lemons, and half a pound of candies, which was enough food for 10 days. The ocean was also teeming with sharks.

The family's 38-day survival at sea was partially made possible by Lyn Robertson's exceptionally resourceful thinking. Lyn, a nurse by profession, was aware that consuming sea water was fatal for everyone. The family had also been ingesting the blood of trapped sea turtles in an effort to survive. Yet it wasn't sufficient. Lyn therefore came up with a creative, if unbelievable, solution.

Before entering the small dinghy, the family sought refuge on a life raft that deflated after 17 days. They had a bag of onions, a tin of biscuits, 10 oranges, 6 lemons, and half a pound of candies, which was enough food for 10 days. The ocean was also teeming with sharks.

The family's 38-day survival at sea was partially made possible by Lyn Robertson's exceptionally resourceful thinking. Lyn, a nurse by profession, was aware that consuming sea water was fatal for everyone. The family had also been ingesting the blood of trapped sea turtles in an effort to survive. Yet it wasn't sufficient. Lyn thus came up with a creative, if unbelievable, solution.