Bad decisions in this environment tend to "stack", creating much more dire situations.
In hindsight, Ken, that was a good call.
For some reason she was unable to use a wind-powered autopilot, which ran up an energy deficit. That required nearly 2 weeks at Cabo for more batteries & fuel. Above a certain windspeed the hydraulic system went on standby & she needed to stay up & hand-steer. And then she hit the early Southern Winter. I don't know this, but she was probably down below desperately trying to get some juice for the system when the wave hit & everything came tumbling down.
Here is a
picture of Abby leaving the fishing boat at the Kerguelen Islands.
