did she break up just as she hit outer reefs or what. I doubt she went 1000 miles in that shape.

The sad thing in cases like this is that if someone had managed to just stay with the boat, and it eventually drifted toward the ultimate destination anyway... if only there had been enough control to bring her safely in.

I don't know the history of FIRST LIGHT. But in the case of QUANTUM LEAP, no one but the skipper had the knowledge to bring in the boat... and once he was removed, the boat didn't have a chance.