The boat/ship may have been better off out to see but you head away from the storm not into it. Just watch deadly catch, they head back to port or on the back of an island to avoid the storms. Same length ships/boat as 128 ft. Bounty but better built. You cannot compare the Atlantic fleet to a 128ft. boat. An 1000 ft. aircraft carrier makes this boat look like a dingy. There a reason they don't build boats like they did 400 years ago unless they are replica's made for a museum on the water. In the Navy he would have been court martial for this. Dereliction of duty, endangerment of property and personel, etc.
If he does make it through this he should be brought up on charges for the woman that did die. My condolences to her and her family.