I read the reviews and other threads that questioned the authenticity of the protagonist as a real seaman.
My question is: is this plot plausible? Can it actually happen? Irrelevant of whatever mistakes the protagonist, is such an event actually survivable?
Sure it is. But not the way this story went. He did just about everything wrong.
1. Masts will only bend with strain on them. That means a sail. In a storm like the one he was in he'd have the sails down. If he didn't then he just didn't know what he was doing.
2. ANYONE alone on the open ocean would know how to use a sextant. He had to read the instructions.
3. Same goes with the flares.
4. He said SOS. The CORRECT call is Mayday Mayday.
5. One does NOT put on foul weather gear after the foul weather arrives
6. One does not forget to secure their fresh water supply.
7. He saw two major storms in a span of a couple days. No experienced sailor would be out in that alone. Our technology is just too good now for this is be a surprise.
Perhaps he didn't deserve to die but he should be dead. The guy Redford depicts had no business out there alone. None at all.