Again, I don't know how many different ways I can say it... The guy probably made the right call, once he found himself in that situation... However, he shouldn't have been in that situation, with that crew, to begin with...

OK, the call for rescue was truly inspired.. If I write the CCA a letter of recommendation for this year's Blue Water Medal to the skipper and crew of VIEWFINDER, will that make you feel better? (grin, bigtime)

I'd disagree with your characterization of this as a "certain rescue", however... I'd rate the chances of having a crewmember injured or lost in such a transfer - even in such relatively benign conditions - as high, if not higher, than if they had continued the voyage...

Did you ever read the account of a similar "certain rescue" after the 50' Gulfstar TRIUMPH was abandoned 800 miles east of Cape Cod 2 summers ago? It turned into a monumental, endless thread over on Sailnet, after the owner eventually weighed in with his side of the story... Conditions were similar, about a 10-12 foot swell, when the 900' merchant vessel KIM JACOB came alongside to take the couple off... Things went horrendously wrong, their rig was toppled on deck after being snagged on the ship's anchor, they were extremely fortunate not to be hurt then. The wife managed to make it up the ship's ladder, but the husband wound up in the water, untethered to anything, and drifted away from the ship... The guy remained in the water FOR THREE HOURS before they finally somehow managed to retrieve him... Absolute miracle he survived, had it not been for the warm water of the Gulf Stream, or that the three hours did not run into darkness, he'd have been a goner, he was at the absolute limit of his remaining strength... I have serious doubts I would have been able to survive such an ordeal...

These "certain rescues" at sea can still be extremely hazardous operations, IMHO - only to be undertaken when there is literally no other option...