I agree that people should be encouraged to discuss their mishaps openly, so everybody can learn from them. We need the paddling equivalent of 'Accidents in North American Mountaineering' or at least a replacement for the incident reports (Broze/Gronseth) in Sea Kayaker magazine.
That film-maker's list of 'bad decisions' was very short.
If his intention was mostly educational - which he doesn't claim - he would have thought a bit more about issues of competence (not being able to turn the kayak, etc etc) and preparation. Unless people 'flame' him in the comments of his video, other 'beginners' will think it was just a case of bad luck with the weather, and not putting on the sprayskirt.
Any bets on whether that kayak had adequate hatch covers? I've seen quite a few boats that were missing the neoprene covers under the 'lid'.
And what about those 'dry bags'?
I've never seen sprayskirts described as devices for keeping rain out of the cockpit. I wonder where he got that idea?
I'm quite sure that no instructor would have allowed two paddlers in a tandem equipped with only one skirt and that skirt not being used.
BTW, that episode also points out that most tandems have less buoyancy (and storage volume) per paddler than the average solo boat.
Another example of 'safety in numbers' falling short. Occasionally I see tandems with two capable paddlers, but usually they are used to allow an unskilled or unfit person to get out on the water.
"Darwin Award competitors' ambition thwarted; will try another activity."
I've restrained myself from referring to the 'oh, whatever' generational issue. Reason: Yesterday at the take-out I met a very affable, younger - though still, like me, a 'retired senior citizen' - man. He's a sailor and kayaker, and we chatted about my new boat and the new kayak his novice paddler wife had ordered. When I asked about whether taking instruction was part of the plan, he said they were quite busy and anyway, he alsways made sure to plan their outings so the conditions were mild and 'nothing could happen'.