Perhaps less possible than they realized.
Christopher Columbus says “hold my beer.”
Hey at least he sailed across the Atlantic. Maybe he didn’t get to where he was going but he got further than they did. Without solar panels. 
Solar panel reference if you didn’t click the link:
There’s a link to a YouTube video embedded in the quote. I have not watched the video.
Were they forced to choose between being electrocuted and being eaten by sharks? I’m told that’s how this goes down with electric boats.
I don’t see how this is a Darwin award as I don’t see any stupidity on their part. People cross the Atlantic all the time with wind power. The theory I heard was that their boat was struck by a cargo ship.
And the cargo ship didn’t report it? Or rescue them?
If a cargo ship hit them at night they may not have even noticed.
Don’t they have distress signals? That commercial ships are required to monitor 24/7?
IANABE (I am not a boating expert.)
Distress signals are good - if you can activate them. I’m guessing their lifeboat did not have a GPS beacon attached to it, which could have saved their lives. A waterproof smartwatch might have made them locateable as well. You can only last so long on a lifeboat with no/limited food and water.
If they had neither of these on an ocean crossing then I think that qualifies as stupidity on their parts.
Either stupidity or just ignorance. They were an older couple and may not have realized how cheap locators are now. Perhaps even a $25 Apple AirTag bracelet/necklace may have done the trick.
I stand by my previous post.
These work when wet?
Asking for a friend.
Good question. Maybe there’s a marketing opportunity there.
The requirement that ocean vessels maintain watch on a guard frequency for distress calls went away several years ago, given the introduction of DSC distress signals on HF (that coast guards should monitor) and satellites monitoring a particular UHF frequency.
HF isn’t a foolproof communications path, especially given how active the sun has been recently. If they didn’t have much time to react…
They should have had an EPIRB (which would have beaconed on the satellite-monitored frequency), and marine EPIRBs are supposed to be waterproof and automatically activate when they get wet. However, if they didn’t have a chance to get it free from wherever they stored, or if it malfunctioned…
Uh, I don’t know what half that stuff is, but shouldn’t something just live on the life boat?