You can get an idea of the challenge by searching Youtube for videos of "pilot transfer" -- keeping in mind that pilot boats are intended to be boarded from, an

You can get an idea of the challenge by searching Youtube for videos of "pilot transfer" -- keeping in mind that pilot boats are intended to be boarded from, and container ships intended to be boarded by pilots. (But then again, Gotheborg is surely equipped to take on pilots to enter harbours, so it was probably more about not abandoning the otherwise perfectly good sailboat.)