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Vasco...you can explain away all the failures as "not Catalinas fault" and "could have been found and dealt with earlier" but lets not forget that this stuff didn't happen in gale or storm conditions. Then we would have heard a lot more about things falling apart in a major way as the hull flex became more significant and the strain on the rig and the pounding began to take a larger toll. When they were rescued...the PREDICTION of 35 knot winds for later was a factor in the decision. It is no big deal to find a boat with no sails up and closed up to be afloat weeks later....kinda like a cork. The strain comes from trying to work the boat towards a destination.
You're right that the biggest issue was the medical one. I also admire the way the crew kept trying to find solutions to their problems and get in safely on their own before accepting help. Contrast this with the Barnes story of a few weeks ago! When all is said and done though, a Catalina 38 requires luck to make it across an ocean. Too much luck for my taste!
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