A South Carolina novelist lost his storm-battered sailboat - but saved his marriage to his wife of nearly five years - during a failed Atlantic crossing that ended in his rescue by students aboard a maritime college's training ship. Michael Hurley's 30-foot ketch, The Prodigal, was abandoned and left drifting 500 miles south of Newfoundland - about 2,000 miles short of his goal of Ireland - when he was rescued last week by students and staff from the Maine Maritime Academy. Hurley and his wife Susan had decided to split up, but they began communicating again while he was on his journey.Michael Hurley left Charleston, South Carolina, in late May with plans to eventually reach IrelandHe and his wife Susan had decided to split up, but they began communicating again while he was on his journeyHurley said his boat had been battered by back-to-back storms and was taking on water about 1,200 miles into his trip to IrelandHis 30-foot ketch, The Prodigal, was abandoned and left drifting 500 miles south of NewfoundlandThe author was rescued last week by students and staff from the Maine Maritime AcademyThe rescue came three days after the couple decided to renew their vows, according to HurleyThey met during an earlier voyage, when Hurley stopped in Charleston to fix a boat, and married in August 2010
He said he had intended to draw on solo sailing adventure to Ireland to provide some fodder for a new novel, '_.' '"_" is about a guy who sails out of Charleston and discovers he has a stowaway on board. '"The Passage" is about a guy who sails out of _ and discovers he has a stowaway on board.