Maybe the crew was inexperienced or didn't know the boat.

Where I sail (LIS NY/CT) the proportion of inexperienced boaters is very high. I hear VHF mayday calls and towboat calls frequently from people who could easily self-assist, sail or drop anchor while they sort out their issues. Sometimes they lose valuable time by calling for help first instead of securing their situation. (Ever hear the 20-minute question routine the USCG puts people through before they even begin to dispatch help? Nobody should call them unless they had exhausted all self help opportunities and they were the only remaining hope.)