Allow me to also point out that all those recently mentioned accidents occured during a race, where competition between sailors was also a factor. Sailing as fast as possible, or at least faster than the next guy, during heavy winds is different than survival sailing.

If the people in that race were really worried they could have simply dropped their sails and rode it out. If shore was downwind of them they could have dropped the main and ran under jib alone.

______ Next thought... ______
If the Nacra sailors had invested in a specialty sail for their boat, one designed for high winds with a flatter cut and shorter foot, perhaps even a shorter luff, they might have been able to keep control of the boat in the first place.

_____ A little off the topic... ______
I've often thought about getting a "storm cat". Just a little 14' one-person boat to take out when it's really blowing hard and see how much fun I can have. A larger boat, with a smaller sail-plan (an 18' boat with a 14' boat's mast and sails) would seem to be the ideal. However I can't right an 18' or even a 16' boat alone, in a reasonable amount of time, because I only weigh 150# soaking wet.
Anyhow, I'm considering a Trac 14 "super sloop" (r/f jib and trapeze) for this, and perhaps by the time I feel competant enough to head out into 30+ knots of wind I'll be able to afford a new sail. Something designed specifically for that boat, a skipper of my weight, and heavy-weather conditions. Yes, I will be thinking long and hard about what safety gear to use and consider activating an EPIRB the very last resort.