Yet it remains true that there are problems at sea that even Abby might not be able to fix, superwomen though she may be. Likewise, it is simply not possible to carry spares on a 36 ftoot boat for every possible thing that might break.

In any case, at this point we don't know anything about what issues the boat had, other than what little has been said in the mainstream media (who almost always get things wrong). Hence it is rather pointless to speculate whether the captain could or could not have fixed it. Or, whether in the same situation Abby might have been able to do better.

You apparently don't grasp the advantages of having a sat phone in this kind of situation. No, you would not want to "Ask someone back home to dial 911?" You would call the appropriate U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC). In this case that would be RCC Alameda at (510)437-3700. The RCCs are responsible for coordinating all marine rescue activities in their assigned regions. If you read the accounts of the Rebel Heart rescue closely, you would have noted that the agencies credited with the rescue were the California ANG PJs, the US Navy ship, and the USCG. The Alameda RCC undoubtedly coordinated the whole show.

Note: for Canadian RCCs, see Canadian Coast Guard Rescue Centres. If you mistakenly call the wrong RCC (US or Canadian), don't worry. They work closely together, and will make sure your distress message goes to the most appropriate assets. Likewise for other international areas.

Sat phones and EPIRBs each have their advantages, and are highly complimentary. The advantage of the EPIRB is it's simplicity. In an emergency you just activate it and in continuously sends out a distress message with your position and vessel identification. The simplicity is also it's disadvantage, in that there is no other info regarding the nature of your emergency.

The huge advantage of a sat phone is that it allows two way communication. You can explain your problem in detail, which can greatly aid whoever the RCC assigns to help you.

In a medical emergency such as this, with a sat phone you can talk to an MD ashore, who may be able to advise you of the best way to deal with the illness or injury. They may even be able to help you sort out whether it is really an emergency at all. There have been many instances of dangerous, complex, and expensive rescues launched for what turned out to be non-emergency medical situations.

In non medical situations, a sat phone can enable you to communicate the severity of your emergency. Do you need help right this instant? Or are things stable enough to wait until daylight or better weather, when the rescue will be much safer for all concerned?

An EPIRB is all or nothing. A sat phone allows nuance. Smart sailors carry both.