We have 4 Type A's,about 10 type 'c' jackets and vest -- plus about 8 auto-inflate PFD's on board.
I'm sure he didn't have 27 life jackets. From the report I read, apparently the three pre-teenagers were below that drowned.
One adjacent powerboat picked-up about 20 of the people. They were lucky there wasn't a thunderstorm or serious wind.