She talks about Shailene Woodley playing her and how pukmsH,? ~ "nYExj#zbmmqdY/1xM'}@M|yHp+&=b`IjOX7e74]?( ]y~D )8JxXQukmWTYJienIU".d#i(;+sk B`Pv/iTi8=|HfCTN# 6d{B Q{&F.Z nP+=[L5. Filming on the movie began just three months after the loss of her daughter but brave Tami still decided to visit the set. Grief-stricken, dazed and with her head cut open from hitting the boats side, Tami had no will to live. Heres why. Unable to outsail the ferocious Hurricane Raymond, Sharp and Ashcraft fought desperately to keep Hazana afloat in the 40-foot waves and 140-knot winds. Now looking back, at times I really needed some professional help.". It was later translated into eight languages, published in fifteen countries and has now been made into a movie, appropriately titled Adrift. Tami Oldham It was 1983, and, just as the trailer depicts, Tami and Richard were engaged and in loveboth with each other and with the water, which they had called home for six months of sailing in their boat, the Mayaluga. Tami Lee Oldham Ashcraft (ne Oldham) is an American sailor and author who, in 1983, survived 41 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Qualification: Graduated from University of the Pacific Ocean (1979-1989), School: Point Loma High School, San Diego, CA San Diego, California, College: The University of the Pacific Ocean, Her Biopic Film Adrift (2018) The new movie starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin is based on the book Red Sky in Mourningbut the real story is much more heartbreaking. . When the couple encounters 1983's formidable Hurricane Raymond, the force of the storm damages the ship and severely injures Richard. Critics have given Woodley positive reviews for her ability to capture the dire reality of the moment. Just get through one thing at a time and remain focused and determined and keep going. Upon further investigation, Ashcraft realized that the engine, the navigation system, and the emergency positioning devices were also in disrepair. Sailor KO'd after hearing fiance's chilling 3 words woke up to 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. In an interview, she told Red Carpet Crash she'd been working with the screenwriters for over five years since they came to her with the idea of turning her book into a film, noting, "I've waited many years for fruition, to see my story on the big screen." There were times I didn't even want to live anymore because I didn't know how I was going to go on. Red Sky in Mourning - Google Books I think it's a marvelous way they did the creativity and work to bring the story to life. When she came to 27 hours later Richard was gone and she was all alone on the ocean, up to her waist in water on the wrecked yacht. The book was closure. Q. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Hazana after it was towed into the harbor at Hilo. You mentioned the movie "A Perfect Storm." People want to convince me it was God, but I don't know. Lover of Brit killed by giant wave in yacht disaster reveals tra H ,',:}{(hG&!G?W!ra(ca%C based on her true story of survival in Category-four Hurricane in 1983, Sister: Cousin: Chelsea Reinhart Pavloff & Claire Bullas, Daughter: Brook Ashcraft and Kelli Ashcraft, Your email address will not be published. In the book you talk about an inner voice that guided and helped you. Next, read about the worst natural disasters of the 21st century. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It reminds me of how I got home. The couple, both avid sailors, had decided to take a break from pleasure sailing in Sharp's 36-foot sailboat, Mayaluga, to take a job delivering a 44-foot yacht, Hazana, from Tahiti to San Diego. The engine, radio, electronic navigation system and emergency position-indicating radio device were broken. Richard was gone. Q. How did you find the courage to sail again? She heard it again when, desperate to get out of the flooded yacht, she prepared to set off in the lifeboat. It became more than me fighting for my character as an actor, it was about fighting for the integrity of the whole project from start to finish,. Tami Oldham Ashcraft Career. It would be impossible to not be authentic given the circumstances.. It would take years for her to fully heal, both physically from her head injury and emotionally. The first three weeks of the voyage were pure happiness and freedom. Hurricane Raymond, a category-four hurricane, surprised the couple by changing course sooner than they expected. I really had to keep determined that I wasn't going to die. Woodley plays the part of Tami, who was only 23 when the incident happened. Q. She was then thrown against the side, knocking her unconscious. Weak, hungry, and on the verge of a mental breakdown, the then 23-year-old sustained herself with only peanut butter and canned food, until she arrived safely in Hilo, Hawaii. How tall is Tami Oldham Ashcraft? When she awoke 27 hours later, she was in the cabin of their 44-foot yacht, laying in several feet of water, surrounded by debris. Tami Oldham reveals the harrowing experience of when her dream adventure turned into a real life nightmare. Learn more. Tami is 62 years old as of 2022, she was was born on Feb 20, 1960, in San Diego, California, United States. Then the radio crackled to life with a warning that Hurricane Raymond was bearing down on them. They had been hired by the boat's new owner to deliver it to San Diego, California. For the next 41 days, Tami Oldham Ashcraft would be alone, adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, fighting to survive. I grieved for so long, and I just wanted to erase it from my mind and move on. "There were times I didn't even want to live anymore because I didn't know how I was going to go on. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Q. With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. As it was she had to drastically ration her meagre supply of water, peanut butter, canned fruit, Spam and sardines. YouTubeTami Oldham Ashcraft after her trip. storm strikes as Richard and Tami struggle to stay on board, Alone. Tami Oldham "Adrift" Interview - Video Q. View our online Press Pack. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". She recounts her terrifying ordeal in her memoir "Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss and Survival at Sea" (Hyperion, $23.95). To get one, go to the subscriptions page. An American sailor and author, Tami Oldham Ashcraft is a mother of two daughters, Kelly Ashcraft and Brook Ashcraft. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. The couple set sail from Papeete Harbor on September 22. $ >?!Ix]4f Tami Oldham remained unconscious for 27 hours after hitting her head when the boat capsized during the hurricane. The severe head injury is visible on Shailene Woodley's character in the 2018 movie. At first, the Adrift movie seems to unfold differently than the true story. She self-published her book in 1998 after several publishers had rejected it. I'm fairly headstrong, so I'm always, `Oh, I can get through this on my own.' I kind of parallel [the hurricane] to being in a car accident. She also found a sextant a navigational instrument first used by mariners 250 years ago which she had been trained to use. So any deviations from the sailor's lived experience are intentional, and done with her approval. It took me six years even to read a book again because I had a major head injury. It helped me to focus, to keep myself on track.". Combined, the two had years of sailing experience and spent much of their time cruising around the South Pacific Islands on Sharps 36-foot sailboat. Though she couldnt even read for six years afterward due to her head injury, she managed to put her entire story down on paper for her book Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea. It helped me to focus, to keep myself on track.. Her story inspired the 2018 film Adrift. Sam Claflin stars as Richard. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. If Oldham-Ashcraft was able to have faith in herself for survival, audiences can trust her that the film truly honors her story. The woman, Tami Lee Oldham, 23, of Point Loma, Calif., was left on her own when Hurricane Raymond battered the 43-foot sailing vessel Hazana and swept her What do you think that inner voice was? Less than WebWent to Point Loma High School, San Diego, CA. No one ever suggested it, but I wish I had because I definitely had some severe post-traumatic stress syndrome. I couldn't believe how much I was still holding around in my head, and just purging it like that really helped me to get past it all. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In 1983, then 23-year-old Tami Lee Oldham Ashcraft set sail from Tahiti with her fianc, 34-year-old Richard Sharp, in a 36-foot sailboat named the Hazana. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. A. It saved my life.. Why Trust Us? Tami Oldham - Facebook Tami Oldham Ashcraft and Richard Sharp, just before setting out on their fateful trip. Woodleys Adrift a lifetime opportunity, Towns challenge new Maine law meant to ease housing crisis, With shelter closing and apartments rising, Portlands Bayside awaits transformation, Big storm to bring flood risk, gusty winds and high seas to Maine, Maine cities, towns face historic tax increases as costs rise relentlessly, Storm prompts flash flood warnings, knocks out power to thousands. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. The cabin was half-filled with water; everything in it was smashed or scattered on the floor. A. The then 23-year-old Ashcraft accompanied him on the crossing. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. It wasnt as intense as when I got to shore and the survival was over, and I could see people together and everything kept reminding me of him. Survivor/Author Tami Oldham Ashcraft talks logic versus emotion, discussing her thoughts with the lead actress and her fears and stamina to be able to survive in Tami Oldham talks Adrift and her own story of love and survival 39,235 views Jan 21, 2019 282 Dislike Share Save Scott D. Menzel 3.35K subscribers Scott But everything changed when they were hired to transport a 44-foot yacht called Hazana from Tahiti to San Diego. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. The safety harness was dangling in the water, but Ashcrafts fianc was nowhere to be found. Tami once recalled: We hugged, laughed, made love and relaxed into 20 days of paradise.. Time: September-November 1983.On September 22, 1983, Tami Oldham and fianc Richard Sharp set sail from Tahiti to San Diego on the Hazana, a 44 ft Trintella sailing yacht. The beautiful thing about this movie to me is that it is a womans survival story but its not a man or woman versus nature story, Woodley said. Less than 2 weeks later, they were trapped in Hurricane Raymonds path-pounding rain, 140 knot winds, and skyscraper-sized waves. An incredible tale, yes, but believe it or not, it's actually based on a true storyand the 2002 memoir written by Tami herself titled Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss and Survival at Sea (which has since been re-released by Dey Street Books as Adrift). But no Richard. The two play young lovers and expert sailors Richard Sharp and Tami Oldham Ashcraft embarking on a journey from Tahiti to San Diego. She wrote of that moment of coming to: The boats smashed to smithereens, the mast and sails are gone ripped clean away. She created a makeshift sail and rigged up a way to pump water from the cabin. 5 Incredible Sea Survival Stories Where People Defied the Odds Then, check out these five amazing survival stories. Why did you decide to write this book and why did you wait so long after your ordeal to start writing it? There was plenty of work to be done. In September 1983, 23-year-old American sailor Tami Oldham Ashcraft set to sea for a 31-day crossing from Tahiti to San Diego, California. She was with her British fianc Richard Sharp, and delivering luxury yacht, Hazana . 20 days into the journey, they were caught in a Category 4 hurricane, bringing with it 15m waves and 150mph winds. Using a broken pole and a storm jib, Ashcraft fashioned a makeshift sail and managed to pump the water out of the cabin. As she closed the door, she heard Sharp shout oh my god! before the boat capsized. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Shailene, 26, said of the true-life survival story reviewed here by Sun film critic Jamie East, which took place in 1983: I was so captivated by it, by who Tami is and the love story. Older videos Playing now 10:39 Was it an accurate depiction of a storm at sea? . The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. I know in a blinding flash hes gone overboard.. It does not store any personal data. Oldham Ashcraft Biography, Facts & Life Story, Li Jun Li Biography, Facts & Life Story, Lil Nas X Biography, Facts & Life Story. Ashcraft believes that the force of the wind was just too strong and that he must have been thrown into the sea and pulled beneath the massive swells. Tami Lee Oldham Ashcraft is an American sailor and author who, in 1983, survived 41 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Only the real-life version is even more heartbreaking. *(I;:*[W"Dd Taysha Murtaugh was the Lifestyle Editor at CountryLiving.com. I'm fairly headstrong, so I'm always, 'Oh, I can get through this on my own.' What advice would you give to other women facing obstacles in their lives? In 1983, engaged couple Tami Oldham-Ashcraft and Richard Sharp set off from Tahiti to deliver a yacht to San Diego. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Tami was played by the beautiful Shailene Woodley and her former fianc Richard Sharp by the dashing Sam Claflin. It was filmed mainly on the open water off Fiji and stars Shailene Woodley of The Fault In Our Stars as Tami and Hunger Games actor Sam Claflin, 32, as Richard. RDK'n The film is based on the memoir of Tami Oldham Ashcraft who endured a devastating hurricane in 1983 and was stranded at sea for 41 days. Twice ships appeared in the distance but their crews did not see the distress flares Tami sent into the sky. Q. She says Woodley and Claflin fit the personalities of her and Sharp at the time of their voyage. The film has her coming to and finding Richard badly injured, leaving her the only one able to operate and repair the yacht, which she does under Richard's guidance. But how accurate is Adrift compared to the true story that inspired it? Tami Oldham On Oct. 12, shortly after Sharp told her to go below deck to rest, Ashcraft heard Sharp scream and was knocked unconscious as she was thrown against the cabin wall when the boat capsized. Richard and Tami, played by Sam Claflin and Shailene Woodley, look worried as hurricane approaches, Fury . A search of the drier cabin revealed a sextant and a watch, the only tools that had survived, and the ones she would use to navigate to the closest landmass the 1,500-mile-away island of Hilo, Hawaii. After a literary agent discovered her book, it was published last year by Hyperion Press after an intense bidding war among the same publishers who had originally turned down her manuscript. Scrambling above deck, she discovered Sharp's safety line dangling over the end of the boat, but he was gone. Years after his death, Tami tied her engagement ring to a rose and sent it out to sea. Tami Oldham Ashcraft (L) and daughter (R) at the, The Crushing True Story Behind 'Adrift'and How Tami Oldham Ashcraft Survived at Sea, True Story of the Cuddling Couple from 'Titanic', Singer Bonnie Raitt Reveals "Medical Situation". It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. Truth is my jam, Woodley said. She never saw him again. Ashcraft wrote a memoir about her experience at sea shortly after the incident, but shes been waiting for it to come together on film for 34 years. In September 1983, Tami Oldham Ashcraft and her fianc, Richard Sharp, set off on the trip of a lifetime. Success. Though the trip was over 4,000 miles, and longer than they had ever gone at one time, the couple felt confident in their ability to do it. Three weeks before the deadly storm, Ashcraft and her fianc Richard Sharp set out on what should have been a routine trip. But 20 days in to their dream voyage, a hurricane struck whipping up waves as tall as skyscrapers. Regarding the major difference, Oldham-Ashcraft said she doesn't want to be a spoiler and noted, accurately, that "there is a little bit of a twist and everything becomes clear in the end. "As I have told my story over the years, I have had people tell me what an incredible story it was and it prompted me to write my book.