It says in the article that the front beam snapped, but in the pictures it clearly shows its still there (Can you tow a cat in 40kt winds without a front beam anyway?). <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

And in this picture the mastbase seems to be pointing out of the water and being towed upwind (to shore), looks like it is mounted on something (top of a RIB maybe?).
They may have deep pockets but they're not idiots.