[Oztrich Boy]

Their course was the logical one and based on sound seamanship considering the magnitude of the hurricane.

They were effectively sailing on the eastward side of the storm, heading south

Westward side (the storm center is still 100+ miles out to sea.

Going East they would of been bucking headwinds all the way

West side with the wind was logical, but it meant sailing between the storm and C.Hatteras. Sometimes there are no good options.

[golux]

I am not so sure about all this "sound seamanship" stuff.

I am not, but were I suddenly made her Master I guarantee you I would have run up the Chesapeake and set all anchors - with these winds and this track even Mobjack Bay near the mouth offers almost a thousand of miles of land against the prevailing winds. A seamanship question.

But did she have sufficient ground tackle? A seamanship question.

When tall ship fairies killed the engines, or when someone did not have the right impeller, or fuel filter, or belt, or know how to make the repair, the "risk everyone" decision had already been made.