Apparently the yacht began taking on water:

www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-28/sailor-jon-sanders-rescued-from-stricken-yacht-off-wa-coast/6578294

He does lots of deliveries. Quite possibly one of these trips. Having only done a couple of deliveries it is always the condition of the boat that worries me. You can't pick every defect up in a half day inspection.

The Zuytdorp Cliffs run from the bottom of Shark Bay (Steep Point) down the coast for about 150km to Kalbarri. There's nothing between them and the Southern Indian Ocean (except a B777 somewhere). I'd imagine a big swell and the cliffs would make an interesting mix. The Leeuwin current also flows South and is strongest this time of year.

We we came out of the bottom of Shark Bay in good conditions. The start of the cliffs is to the right in this picture





This is what they look like close up.






Not a pleasant area to get into trouble and you feel quite alone down that part of the coast.