After further consideration, I agree is was a mistake
not to make everyone on board wear a lifejacket.

While these particular boats don't get knocked down
in such conditions, it is always a good idea to wear a
lifejacket--

1) When the water is cold enough to kill
2) At night,
3) In big waves,
4) When it is windy
5) On the ocean, and
6) When you are farther from land than you can swim.

In this case, "the water was cold enough to kill".

I'll give myself a dozen lashes for not following my own
rules.

wrote
Not wearing life jackets in gusty conditions, you deserve a knock down
to convince you otherwise.