Some of us are luckier than others. With two shrouds gone on the same side I'd be pretty worried. The water however, sounded manageable.

I have had a couple of rigging issues at sea. Both with forestays. One I managed to repair and the other I limped 250 miles back to port. But the biggest problem I had at sea was a storm and a knockdown. Fatigue made coping very difficult.

The second story you posted is as much a story of an a$$hole as a story of a rescue. The woman should have known as it was his fifth marriage. IMO, the guy got what he deserved - the woman is the gullible one that ended up losing.

In the article I linked to above, the worst of it was the story of a helicopter crew dying, trying to save a climber. They are the heroes, the climbers were the reckless ones, putting others at risk.