A genuine tale of survival, this story follows a young couple whose unexpected meeting leads to love and an adventure filled with challenges as they confront one of history's worst hurricanes. Featuring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin, "Adrift" tells the inspiring true story of two adventurous souls drawn together by fate. Tami Oldham (Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Claflin), both passionate sailors, embark on an ocean journey without realizing they're headed straight into a catastrophic hurricane. After the storm, Tami wakes up to find Richard seriously hurt and their boat destroyed. With no rescue in sight, Tami must summon her strength and willpower to save herself and her beloved. "Adrift" is a powerful tale highlighting human resilience and the profound impact of love.
In October 1983, the gripping and emotional narrative of Tami Ashcraft and Richard Sharp unfolds. "Adrift" depicts the couple's 4,000-mile sailing adventure from beautiful Tahiti to San Diego. Tasked with delivering a 44-foot yacht named Hazana to California, Richard and Tami soon face an overwhelming category-four hurricane, battling massive waves and 140 mph winds. Ultimately, with Richard injured and their boat in ruins, Tami must gather her bravery and resolve to survive, even when all seems hopeless. The movie starts with Tami waking up on the damaged sailing yacht Hazaña after being unconscious for a while. Remembering that Richard didn’t come down with her, she searches the boat, hoping to find her fiancé. She quickly realizes that Richard has been thrown overboard because his safety harness failed during the hurricane. In despair, Tami screams and understands she is completely alone with no land or other ships around her.
The story shifts back to 1983, five months before the hurricane. Tami arrives in Tahiti aboard the schooner Sofia and meets Richard Sharp, a British sailor. Richard invites Tami to dinner on his boat, Mayaluga. During their meal, he shares that he sometimes sees hallucinations while at sea.
Returning to the present, Tami is stranded on the damaged Hazaña and discovers that all the electronic devices are ruined from water, making it impossible to call for help. She spots the lost dinghy, where Richard is clinging on, and attempts to steer the yacht toward him, but fails. After falling off the yacht and nearly drowning, Tami knows she must repair the ship to get it moving again. She improvises a sail using a broken pole and a storm jib. She also uses a pump to stop the cabin from flooding before heading to rescue Richard. Once she saves him, Tami finds out that Richard has broken ribs and a shattered right leg. While searching for food, she realizes she has a serious head injury and uses a sail needle and thread to stitch it up.