Steven Callahan

Steven Callahan is an American author, naval architect, inventor, and sailor recognized for his account of solo survival at sea. Callahan completed an Atlantic crossing after losing his boat mid-ocean, spending 76 days in a life raft and drifting 1,800 nautical miles. He departed Newport, Rhode Island, aboard Napoleon Solo, a 6.5-meter sloop he designed and built, before the vessel was lost at sea. His experience is noted as one of the longest solo survival feats in maritime history, and he is the only person known to have survived more than a month alone at sea in an inflatable raft.

Callahan chronicled his ordeal in the book "Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea," which appeared on The New York Times best-seller list for more than 36 weeks. The book has been translated into multiple languages and is regarded as a significant work in the adventure and survival genre. He also authored "Capsized" for survivor Jim Nalepka, who spent four months with four other men on an overturned, half-flooded boat. Callahan has contributed writings, illustrations, and photographs to more than a dozen other books focused on seamanship and survival, and has authored hundreds of articles for the marine press. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, High Technology, International Wildlife, and Ultrasport, among others.

As a naval architect, Callahan has designed and built boats, taught design, lived aboard, raced, and cruised various vessels. Drawing from his survival experience, he developed several maritime safety innovations and holds three U.S. patents, including designs for a boat stability device and two types of folding boats. His invention, The Clam, is a multi-functional self-rescue dinghy designed as both a lifeboat and yacht tender. Callahan has served as a contributing editor to Sail and Sailor magazines and as senior editor of Cruising World. He leads S.P. Callahan & Associates, providing design, research, and consulting services to the boat building and marine safety industries.

During the production of the movie "Life of Pi," director Ang Lee consulted Callahan on life raft survival, with Callahan creating lures and tools featured in the film. The documentary "76 Days Adrift" features Callahan recreating his experience with original equipment and includes 8mm footage from his journey. His books and experiences have been featured in media outlets including Reader's Digest, People, the Tonight and Today shows, Oprah Winfrey, Larry King, Voice of America, and NPR's All Things Considered. Callahan continues to write and speak on survival, voyaging, and seamanship, and is frequently interviewed for television and other media programs.