I have been in a couple of bad situations - the worst a storm in 2003 that shredded the dodger, the main and some running rigging. A sobering experience.

I wonder about some of those sailors as well. I have seen good sailors come through rough situations with minimal boats and then I read about delivery crews on megayachts that abandon them under far less threatening situations. And too many new cruisers not preparing themselves for what may come.

Hopefully we all learn from our mistakes.

Brendan, my best wishes to you and yours in the holiday season and 2014.