Movies about yachts and the sea

“Sea Wolf” (Sea Wolf, 2009).
Perhaps one of the best adventure movies about yachts and the sea, based on the novel by Jack London. Each of the main characters turned out to be bright and multifaceted. The captain of the whaling ship “Ghost” Wolf Larsen evokes contradictory feelings in the viewer, from admiration to disgust. It is interesting to observe the transformation of writer and critic Humphrey Van Weyden. During the sea voyage from a stunted young man he turns into a hardened sailor, ready to fiercely fight for love. Their romance with a poetess who has escaped from her despotic father unfolds in harsh conditions, the couple has to go through a series of trials, lost in speculation whether they will stay alive.

“Kon Tiki” (Kon Tiki, 2012).
Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl wants to prove his theory and decides to cross the Pacific Ocean on a makeshift raft, just as ancient navigators did. He builds the Kon Tiki and sets off on an adventure in the company of like-minded people. The sea element throws up various surprises, and survival in a confined space provokes conflicts in the team. Will they be able to reach the cherished goal? Or will Tour's erroneous theory cost everyone their lives?

The story is impressive, since it is based on real events. I must say, the director managed to shoot not only an interesting, but also a beautiful movie. The viewer as if he himself finds himself on a raft alone with the ocean.

“Hope Never Fades” (All is lost, 2013)
Experienced yachtsmen joke that this movie about yachts is a great manual for the skipper, how not to act if you find yourself alone in the middle of the ocean with a hole in the board. Contrary to the criticism, the movie turned out to be curious, but for an amateur. For 1.5 hours you will not hear almost a single word, only sounds, and on the screen the viewer sees one hero played by Robert Redford.

It is interesting that from English the original title is translated as “All is lost”, but in Russian distribution the movie came out under a more optimistic title.

“Icebreaker” (2016).
The work of Russian director Nikolai Khomeriki is devoted to the events of 1985, when the icebreaker “Mikhail Gromov”, having avoided a collision with an iceberg, is trapped in the ice near Antarctica. The captain of the icebreaker, Andrei Petrov, is dismissed from his post and his place is taken by Valentin Sevchenko. The hopeless situation provokes more conflicts on board. While waiting for help, the crew of the Mikhail Gromov spends 133 days among the ice. And with each day melts the hope to see loved ones again....

“The Double Life of Charlie St. Cloud” (Charlie St. Cloud, 2010).
This movie about yachts awakens the brightest feelings. There are elements of drama, romance and a bit of mysticism. The protagonist of the movie, Charlie St. Cloud, works in a cemetery and leads a withdrawn lifestyle, leaving his dreams of sailing. But a meeting with a classmate who is about to embark on a solo circumnavigation of the world arouses new feelings in him and puts him in front of a painful choice. Although the director chose a difficult theme of life and death, the movie turned out to be light and enjoyable.

“The Rescue” (The Guardian, 2006).
A very strong movie is dedicated to the difficult work of American rescue divers. Every day they risk their lives, and their choices in the deep sea are not always easy. The viewer witnesses the confrontation between a young, irascible swimmer Jake Fisher and his coach, the legendary rescue diver Ben Randall. Each is troubled by a different pain of the past.

“Life of Pi” (2012).
The Oscar-winning film, voted Best Picture by the Academy in 2012, is still relevant today. Director Ang Lee was inspired by the novel by Yann Martel.

A zoo owner is trying to move his family and menagerie from India to Canada. After a storm on a dry cargo ship, his son finds himself in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. Despite the improbability of the plot, the movie is mesmerizing in its details and immerses the viewer in the beautiful world of the limitless ocean, both generous and cruel.

“Race of the Century” (The Mercy, 2018).
This movie about yachts is based on the real tragic story of British adventurer Donald Crowhurst, which took place in 1968. The hapless entrepreneur finds himself in debt and decides to do a crazy thing for the sake of his family. With no experience or training, he applies for the Sunday Times Editorial Board's Golden Globe Regatta

To win the coveted prize, one must sail around the world on a trimaran alone. After leaving port, the equipment begins to break down. The hapless skipper realizes that overestimated his strength, the race fair way he can not win, so goes to deceive. But the closer the exposure, the harder it is to get to the finish line.

By the way, the English title of the movie translates as “Forgiveness”. That word was one of the last words in the note left by Donald before he mysteriously disappeared from the yacht.

“Message in a Bottle, 1998.
A stunning romantic story full of love and tenderness. Perhaps one of the most successful melodramatic movies about yachts and the sea.

Theresa Osborne, an employee of the Chicago Tribune newspaper, discovers a letter in a bottle on the ocean shore, thanks to which she meets inconsolable widower Garrett Blake. In a small seaside town, he repairs yachts. The meeting changes their lives, and fate forces them to make a difficult choice between the past and the future.

Thanks to the brilliant work of the director and crew, you enjoy every frame. The main character is played by Kevin Costner, and this is an additional reason to watch this movie.

“Loner” (En solitaire, 2013)
A rare movie about yachts and the sea, which allows you to look at the round-the-world race Vendée Globe from the inside, through the eyes of the protagonist, yachtsman Jan Kermadec. He has to sail around the world alone, without entering any port or stopping. These are the strict rules of one of the most prestigious and challenging regattas in the world. Not all participants reach the finish line, let alone win. Ian aspires to be the first, but an unexpected accident on the yacht confuses all his plans.

“Military Diver” (Men of Honor, 2000).
Even after a while, this movie does not lose its appeal to the audience. The script is based on the real story of a famous black diver Carl Brashear. The brave young man has not only to take on the most dangerous tasks, but also to fight against the prejudices of the Navy command, as well as to resist his own mentor, played by the brilliant Robert De Niro, who cruelly mocks the diver.

Of course, this is not the whole list of movies about yachts, which in the future will surely be supplemented with more wonderful pictures.