And anyone having done the race is very aware of the islands. The common local discussion is whether to go inside or outside the islands. Why would anyone with experience set course right to the islands that were well known?

Jon poses a good theory that might fit... skipper sets course on GPS and then later falls off while peeing off the stern. This explains why the skipper/owner has not been found. The rest sleeping below had no idea.

But again why would anyone who had done the race set a course to the only obstacle?