I take issue with your use of the term "prepared".
You stated that "if we had known about the weather before we started, we would not have gone on the trip".
How can you call yourself "prepared", if you hadn't checked the weather?
Checking the weather is the MOST important item when sailing off-shore, because if conditions exceed the maximum capabilities of you or your boat, you die. Then we have to put up with another "shark-bite" lawsuit.
You CANNOT pack enough stuff or "be prepared" to survive everything.

The is a great deal of evidence that helmets contribute to accidents and the severity of the injuries, specifically spinal cord damage.
Allowing riders the choice of being able to see and hear better, thus avoiding accidents is simply freedom of choice.