Back when seafaring was an existential danger every single day.
No weather reports. No certainty of when you would reach land. No effective medicines. And no comms.
I commend their shear bravery.
I do as well. But you pretty much described sea travel up until a century or so ago and the sea is still a cruel mistress.
Well said. Add to that the small amount of freeboard, particularly in rough seas (and give or take a heavier cargo), they were crossing seas in vessels none of us would use to cross the crick. :^)