Varis wrote:
JimH wrote:

The pleasure boater pays the tab for the tow back to the dock and is

I doubt this guy gets a free tow for his boat...

not in the middle of the ocean when needing one.

Probably not. At least, hopefully not :-)

The sailor did not get unlucky. Such storms should be expected when
attempting to sail around the world.

BTW: The sailors boat was certainly no seaworthy enough to attempt a
round the world passage. ;-)

You're going a bit easy on the details here :-) How many beauforts was
that particular storm? Did you have a chance to inspect his boat
personally?

How about all the boats that sail around the world or whereever on the
oceans for months, without any need for emergency help?

Risto

The bottom line: He put himself in harms way. His boat failed him.
Extraordinary resources were spent saving him. He should therefore
foot the bill, not the taxpayers.