Timothy Shaddock – 2 months in the Pacific Ocean

Most people have a dream of some sort, whether it’s living in a certain house or owning a certain car, but for Timothy Shaddock, it involved retiring early and spending as much time as possible at sea on his new catamaran. He loved to sail but had never spent a long amount of time on the open ocean before, but this didn’t stop him from taking his boat out on a several-month-long voyage from Mexico to French Polynesia.

Originally from Australia, Shaddock quit his job and moved to Mexico at the age of 54 to live out his dream of being on the open ocean. He tested out his catamaran, which he bought 2 years earlier, on a series of small trips around the Gulf of California, but didn’t spend more than a few days on it each time. After his ordeal was over he later said:

“Of course, living on a boat and sailing on a boat is two different things and that was more of a challenge”

“The only preparation that you can really do is take the boat out to sea and test the boat at sea”

The exact date of when he left the Gulf of California is unclear, as he can’t seem to remember the date himself, though it appears to be around the start of May. He had the option of leaving when he did or waiting another year until hurricane season in Mexico had passed, so he loaded up his boat with supplies and a stray dog he had taken in called Bella, who was his only companion for the voyage.

(A crew member of the ship María Delia that rescued them, posing with Bella)

The pair set out from their dock in Mexico and headed southwest towards the island of French Polynesia, a tiny island almost right in the middle of the pacific ocean. The start of the journey went well, with Shaddock later commenting on how the Pacific winds took their ship and sent them at top speed toward their destination. They were only at sea for a few days when the wind began to pick up until suddenly they found themselves in the middle of a huge storm.

“The current changes direction. So if you’re drifting you’re suddenly drifting in a circle. And the wind, it’s changing all the time,” Shaddock said. “The waves are moving in many directions and it’s hypnotising. You sort of suddenly feel like you’re in a whirlpool.”

The storm lasted for hours and his boat was constantly battered by the wind and the waves. By the time it was all over, he had lost his communication equipment including his navigational devices, and he lost his ability to cook food when the kitchen was badly damaged. The next few days were spent in panic, running around trying to fix the boat as best he could, and salvaging anything that could be useful.

Luckily his fishing gear was fine and he was able to use the large surface area of the boat to collect enough water each time it rained. Fishing wasn’t a problem and he was able to catch enough to keep him and Bella alive, which he later said was one of his main sources of motivation.

on July 12, about 2 months after the storm, a helicopter flew over and spotted him. It had been dispatched from a fishing vessel called the María Delia in search of shoals of tuna. Just from the look of Shaddock’s boat, it was clear he needed rescue, and the fishing vessel sent out a smaller boat to pick them up. They were given care on board and taken back to dry land where he spent a short stay recovering in the hospital.

He made a full recovery and returned back to Australia, but unfortunately, he gave Bella away to one of the crew who promised to find her a good home. He later said the reason for this was the strict laws Australia has on bringing in plants and animals from other countries.