He's a moron, plain and simple.
Let's see, I don't have the mechanical aptitude to effect a simple repair but I'll take an unknown boat out at night? I have enough bologna for an army but I don't have a flashlight on a midnight cruise? I'll drop an anchor, three miles out in 120 feet of water in windy conditions requiring a 7:1 scope, about 850 feet of line but I don't know enough about rope to lash the boom to the mast to get me home or at least to a point of safety. I don't know enough about sailing to know that a kicker, regardless of how small, is a necessity for safety's sake.
Though his $157 yacht was probably no real prize, it didn't let him down, he let it down and his stupidity just cost the taxpayer's big bucks in a needless rescue. I'm glad he's OK, but I hope is scares him off the water. The Coast Guard should be free to help people that have gotten into hot water, not change the diapers of people who had no business being out there. Like people who hike the Grand Canyon without water, or hunt an unknown wilderness with no map, compass or GPS: then call for a rescue. It's called taking responsibility for yourself.
This coming from me, a guy that thought a Cunningham was one of Richie's relatives and an out haul was when my dad found me at that party. I began sailing inexperienced but prepared, both on board with all the equipment required and recommended and in my head with months of reading and watching; plenty of theory yearning for application. For all the mishaps I've had (and they have been voluminous) I have overcome through common sense and preparing for mishaps.
