His "friends" -- let's assume that they were honestly acting -- obviously told the Coast Guard he was in obvious danger and that they needed to rescue him.

What should the USCG have done? Come to see if a blind captain in a 20' boat with no means of propulsion, limited electrical power, facing a storm, etc. etc. should be left there to face his "fate" when they were in a position to save him. In the real world, the USCG get to have a live guy arguing that he wasn't in that BAD as situation. The key world is BAD. It's only a matter of "how bad".

I don't know how "blind" he really is. There are legally blind indivduals that can make some things out. There are others that can see NOTHING.

In answer to your question, if you call someone to relate your (dire) situation, then what do you expect unless the person wants to take on the responsibility of keeping your situation a secret. If you tell someone who asks the USCG to see what they can do...then for someone to act otherwise would be irresponsible.

His personal right to try that challenge (or stunt, depending on your point-of-view) kind of ends when you mention your problems to others. Either they take an laissez faire attitude (que sera, sera -- or wahtever; or, they call in the rescuers.