Santiago is also known as ‘the old man’ and was an unfortunate fisherman for not fishing for 84 days.
Loyal
Manolin was an apprentice to the old man, and very loyal to him. Manolin is very close to Santiago even though Santiago has bad luck in fishing.
Time to change fortunes
Manolin’s parents didn’t like it and had forbidden Manolin to sail with the old man due to Santiago’s unfortunate fate of fishing and manolin’s parents told him to fish with more successful fishermen.
Long journey
Although Manolin had been warned by his parents, he still insisted on visiting by visiting Santiago's lodge every night to help the old man pull fishing gear, feed him as well as discuss Santiago's idol American baseball player (Joe DiMaggio).
Santiago tells Manolin that he will go far into the shallow coastal waters of the island to catch fish and hopes that his misfortune will end soon.
On the 85th day, santiago went a long way to the Gulf with his canoe.