We have a sailboat that is a true blue water cruiser. We have been up down and all around SoCal from San Diego to Ventura. We have a true respect for the sea. Watch and listen to the weather reports religiously before undertaking any cruise. We also have a handheld nav and a handheld radio in case the hard wired ones quit working (which they have lol).
Those kids should have never attempted that trip in a 19 ft boat with apparently no one really knowing where they were going and no emergency equipment.
Yes, it may be that they didn’t really tell their parents exactly what their plans were?
There are some comments below one of the online reports that indicate to that extent.
The sea is unforgiving in a lapse in judgment or preparation.
When I was younger, I read every book I could find about shipwrecks and real life lost at sea stories.
I just play in the road now.
There still is a possibility of them having been picked up (maybe by unsavory characters) with or without a weather incidence.
Regardless, their parents are having a real bad weekend.