Watching that boat round up on its own, the skipper would've been plenty safe to stay aboard and quit "trying". That boat isn't going to capsize anytime soon.
We need to keep training ourselves so we don't PANIC and jump overboard, requiring rescue when our boat will self right and turn into the wind on its own.
Cool footage, poor skipper he probably won't live it down for a very long time.
Willy
Runaway Sailboat Causes Havoc
-
seahouse
- Admiral
- Posts: 2182
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:17 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Niagara at Lake Erie, Ontario. 2011 MacM, 60 hp E-Tec
- Contact:
Re: Runaway Sailboat Causes Havoc
Hey Willy! 
I think that guy may very well have died had he stayed on board. He was unable to control the boat, or was exhausted from trying, was running aground, and if he and the boat were pretty rain-soaked, there was a good chance of electrocution from the high- tension wires the mast hit.
But you are quite right - boats have been abandoned prematurely for the reasons you mention.
- Brian.
I think that guy may very well have died had he stayed on board. He was unable to control the boat, or was exhausted from trying, was running aground, and if he and the boat were pretty rain-soaked, there was a good chance of electrocution from the high- tension wires the mast hit.
But you are quite right - boats have been abandoned prematurely for the reasons you mention.
- Brian.