At the risk of stirring a up a hornets nest. Its another case of a cruising
boat being ill prepared. Sailing in an area like Cooks Strait without the ability to survive a blow is just crazy.
An old design, like the
boat in question, would have loved those conditions and would have been comfortable compared to a
race boat. But what appears to be inexperience and lack of preparation mixed with a cup full of cold and fear, ended up being a
rescue.
Its reported they had a loss of "navigation systems". What? the chart and
compass blew
overboard? (smell the sarcasm- yum yum- smells like chicken).
Perhaps its time for mandatory licencing and course completion for skippers who go
offshore. As it truley appears that this is yet "another" case of premature abandonment. The second one on this forum in a week!