Hunger and Dehydration Became a Battle
Surviving eleven days in such a position would have been difficult even with an adequate supply of food and water.
The men reportedly had very limited supplies.
Whatever food and water they managed to bring with them would eventually have run out.
Dehydration would have weakened their bodies.
Hunger would have made it increasingly difficult to maintain strength.
But perhaps the greatest challenge was exhaustion.
The human body requires sleep to function properly. Yet sleeping while sitting or crouching on an exposed piece of machinery above the ocean would have been extremely dangerous.
The men could not simply close their eyes and forget about their surroundings.
They had to remain aware of the movement of the ship and the ocean around them.
Every moment required caution.
The Ocean Was Always Beneath Them
One of the most terrifying aspects of the journey was the position itself.
