There are experienced sailors that still have boats without engines. The Pardeys were a famous example.I'd have guessed that with all that experience they would have had something like this on board.
A bit scary for some in the modern world where many sailors buy every gadget under the sun for their boat.
The gear=safety thinking is interesting.
I know a 80 year old that has sailed for 70 years, starting with a wood thing his dad made him.
He's been cruising for 40 years He told me that he would rather "not put a rescue crew at risk to save an old man”.
(While that is an extreme thought.. depending on the location it does sorta make sense to me. Vendee Globe competitiors in the southern ocean for example)
We've chatted about the fact when he started cruising, the skill required for navigation, prevented the less skilled from heading offshore,. until they were ready.
Otoh, today some incompetent boat owners, use gear in general, as a way to compensate for their boat, and lack of skill. "Why be prepared when you can just call for help?"
I once ran into a SAR training session while driving the logging roads of Vancouver Island. I asked them how many people they were training. They said "not enough". Apparently with the spread of cellphones, there was a large increase in the number people who had no business being in the bush, needing rescue. They were relying on their phones to save them.
We obviously don't know the real situation with that 41 ft.that was lost. we dont know their true level of skill. Condition of the boat etc. (You can sail for 50 years and still not acquire a wide range of experience. Knowing how to MacGyver things doesn't mean you can sail a boat in heavy weather)
Personally.. while I would definitely carry an EPIRB as a last resort, I feel that you should be prepared to self rescue. You should have the skills and the boat that minimizes the need to put rescue crews at risk and cost the taxpayers a pile of money because YOU chose to sail from the dock.
But...Based on @dlochner post, a new ACR Bivy may be on my Xmas list.
Truly skilled crew that mistakenly didn't feel they needed rescue beacons ?
"Experienced" crew with a badly maintained boat ? (The media and family always seem to say the sailors were experienced)
Drug cartel Pirates ?
Alien abduction ?
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