You may or may not have realised that the laser, although difficuilt to
de-rig while afloat is an extremely safe boat. due to the in-built
floation foam it is almost unsinkable, and if simply left head-to-wind,
it will practially stand-still. Furthermore, if you simply relax the
sheet and head out of wind slightly from a broad-reach you will be able
to control the boat fully yet reduce almost all of the sail's power.

It sounds like these people that you have rescued were somewhat
inexperianced.
Aaron Rawling - Reasonably Inexperianced Laser Sailor...