Hope is the single most important thing that Velasco has that helps him survive 10 days adrift at sea. Hope comes in many forms in the book. More often than not, it stems from Velasco’s memories of happier times; but it is also found in the tiny morsels of sustenance that come his way, and even in the sea around him.

Soon after the accident, Velasco expects rescue within a few hours. However, after that time passes, a sense of expectancy gives way to a strong sense of hope, a belief that he will be rescued. Hopefulness is one of Velasco’s inherent traits. Very early on, Velasco hallucinates his old friend, Jaime, with him in the raft, and he vacillates between belief and doubt that Jaime is real. Eventually, however, he decides that it does not matter; the vision of his friend provides him with a sense of companionship, which in turn keeps his hopes up.

Many memories or thoughts of friends sustain Velasco’s hope; for example, when he is wishing for death to relieve him of his suffering, Velasco remembers his times with Massey Nasser, a Jewish salesman in Mobile, and feels encouraged. Similarly, while his very first night alone at sea is extremely lonesome and anxious, Velasco finds hope in the constellation Ursa Minor—and, by extension, the North Star.