Whilst I can understand your point of view Bryan, having been RN for 25 years, and called on several times to rescue yachtsmen, I still admire the courage and determination of these sailors.
If we are to ban these types of event, why not also ban mountaineers, pot-holers, fell walkers and the like, all of who rely on unpaid volunteer rescue organisations to get them out of trouble when things go wrong? Then there are swimmers, surfers, skiers, the list goes on and on.
Danny