In 1983, Ashcraft's fiancé, 34-year-old British sailor Richard Sharp, was hired to deliver the 43-foot (13 m) yacht Hazaña from Tahiti to San Diego.
The yacht capsized and Ashcraft was thrown against the cabin wall and knocked unconscious.
When she regained consciousness about 27 hours later, Sharp was gone and the Hazaña was severely damaged: the cabin was half-flooded, the masts had broken off the yacht, and the radio and navigation system were inoperable.
[6] Due to the boat damage and the local wind conditions, she determined that her original route to San Diego was no longer viable and decided instead to make the 1,500-mile (2,400 km) journey to Hawaii.
On November 22 – 41 days after the dismasting – Ashcraft reached Hilo, Hawaii.