The story of a woman who spent 41 days in the Pacific Ocean became a blockbuster (4 photos + 1 video)

Tami Oldham Ashcraft and Richard Sharp were traveling across the Pacific Ocean on a yacht when they were hit by a hurricane. Richard was washed overboard, and Tami remained on a yacht in the middle of the ocean for 41 days, confident that she would not survive. But, supported by her own courage and the disembodied voice of the ghost, she managed to get to land. Now this incredible story has become a Hollywood blockbuster.

American Tami Oldham Ashcraft and her fiancé, 34-year-old Briton Richard Sharp, set off on a journey across the Pacific Ocean on the yacht Khazana from the shores of Tahiti to California. The journey of about 6,000 kilometers was supposed to be a happy event for the young yachtsmen. However, fate decreed otherwise. The yacht was caught in Hurricane Raymond, one of the most destructive in history. Richard was washed overboard by a wave, the mast on the yacht broke, the sails were torn off by the wind, and the hull was full of water. When the storm passed, 23-year-old Tami found herself alone in the middle of the ocean. She was sure that she would not survive. However, day after day she moved forward as best she could, steering the ship. According to her, she was constantly supported by the ghostly voice of the deceased Richard, who helped her control the sextant and find her way through the stars. 41 days later, exhausted, Tami landed on shore. This incredible story is the basis of the film "On the Ocean", which is due to be released this summer. The role of Tami was played by Shailene Woodley, and Richard was played by British actor Sam Claflin.

According to Tami, Richard literally sacrificed his life for her. Seeing that a huge wave was approaching the yacht, he ordered the girl to hide in the cabin, while he remained at the helm, trying to keep the yacht afloat. Within minutes, a wave crashed onto the yacht, washing Richard into the ocean. Having discovered his absence, Tami could not cope with grief for a long time. In addition, the girl was wounded - her head was broken, she lost a lot of blood, and, according to her, periodically lost consciousness. “I screamed in anger at the ocean that took away my beloved... I was beside myself with anger and grief, I came to my senses, then again disconnected from reality,” she recalls.

According to Tami, Richard’s quiet voice brought her to her senses, ordering her not to think about the horror she had experienced, but to take control of the ship. Tami is sure that without this ghostly support she would not have survived and could not have coped with the ship. Twice during her journey - on the 16th and 34th day - she saw large ships on the horizon, but they did not notice the tiny boat, and she had nothing to signal them with.

There was very little water left on the yacht, and Tami stretched it out as best she could, allowing herself to drink only a few sips a day. She also had some beer and Cuban cigars left after the hurricane. These were her little pleasures at night. She wanted to give up many times, but Richard's voice whispered to her: "Don't give up. Fight for your life."

After Tami returned home and met her family, she had to spend a long time recovering from her wounds and the consequences of sailing alone. But mental wounds took much longer to heal. “At sea, my thoughts were focused on what I needed to survive,” she says. “But on shore, safe, the grief of losing Richard came back with renewed vigor.” Many years passed before Tami was able to set foot on board the yacht again. For six years she could not even read and categorically refused to talk about what happened to her. It was only after Tami got married and had a child that she found the strength to tell her story. “I always wanted to write a book about it,” says Tami. “But I was too caught up in it all to be able to write about what happened to me.”

Now Tami’s dream has come true: her story in the film “In the Ocean” will be seen by the whole world. The film is scheduled to hit theaters around the world in July.