Message in a Bottle

Inside the bottle you find a note which reads, in fairly good handwriting: <To any that can aid me-> <Please, my need for help is dire. A great beast holds me captive on an island in the South Seas.> <The stars at night are foreign to me and obscured by the jungle trees, but on the clearest days I see shoreline to the northwest, and what seem to be large sailing ships to the southwest.> <I beg of you, my would-be savior, please help me.>