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I think these guys biggest mistake was expecting someone to rescue them. I'm a firm believer that any sailor should go out with the tools to rescue themselves. If they had considered that they were the only ones responsible to rescue themselves they might not have left shore that day.


Mike,

As an outdoor guide and a former member of an Idaho Mountain Rescue team, the idea of not expecting help/rescue resonates with me. I agree with what you said above. An assessment of risk and the decision to go vs. no-go should be made from the standpoint of one's own skills/resources to get out of any potential situation without outside assistance. Not to say that one should not carry the necessary signalling gear. I wouldn't go out without it, but the availability of such gadgets should not play into the decision making process.

Kevin Rose N6.0na #215 Lake Champlain (New England's "west coast") Burlington, Vermont