Kushila Stein, 47, from New Zealand, went missing off the Greek island of Folegandros after going ashore to go shopping on Friday.
She had been making her way back to a yacht in the Aegean Sea when one of her oars went overboard and she lost control of the dinghy.
Kushila Stein was rescued from the Aegean Sea, north of Crete, on Sunday.
During her 37-hour ordeal Ms Stein reportedly rationed a “handful of boiled lollies” and wrapped herself in plastic bags for warmth.
Her husband, Mike, got alarmed when he awoke at 5am on Saturday to find she had still not returned from shopping.
Greek authorities launched a search and rescue mission that included six coastguard vessels, a helicopter, and an underwater drone.
After an extensive search, the Greek Coast Guard found her 101km (55 nautical miles) north of Crete, Greece’s largest island, after 40 hours at sea with no fresh water.
An experienced sailor, Ms Stein put a red bag on her head and used a mirror to attract attention, reports say.
She was reportedly taken to hospital in the Crete city of Herakleion and to have been treated for dehydration.
Stein is an experienced sailor who has instructed others in how to survive at sea. Her mother Wendy Stein said her daughter’s training in sea survival “might have saved her life”.
