the task of sailing across the Atlantic on your own hull and doing it in the estimated number of days IS all the task they are capable of... that is their "Everest" so to speak. Throw in a broken rudder and you have gone well beyond their means. And as was pointed out, perhaps a couple may have made it, or a single hander, but how do you bring along "others?"

Consider the situation of Satori, the Westsail 32 of which we are all no doubt familiar. No doubt the skipper may have chosen to ride it out, and may have survived, but did he have the right to demand that the crew "suffer" the same fate?

Now bear in mind I make this statement as an armchair sailor who has done really no open water sailing... and while I might jump on a chance to crew on a crossing, reality can certainly temper the mood.