You and your son have crossed to France for a long weekend in your twin-screw flybridge boat...
You and your son have crossed to France for a long weekend in your twin-screw flybridge boat. It is a great day for making the return trip across the Channel from St Vaast. The sky is blue and cloudless, and the forecast is for a Force 2, so even though there is a low swell you are making good progress. It has been a great late spring bank holiday weekend, and you’re returning with a very special cargo – 20-odd cases of wine and beer stowed carefully on board.
You’re an hour into the passage home when you make a wide, sweeping turn to clear a sailing yacht and as you return to your south-westerly course you feel Warrior is handling somewhat differently and somewhat sluggishly. You’re son pops up top to say he can hear a weird noise below. You throttle back, hand over the helm to him, and head down to investigate. Soon you can hear the sound that has given mariners through the ages nightmares – the unaccounted for sloshing of liquid.
On checking, your worst fears are confirmed: the bilges are awash and you can’t immediately find the cause of the problem. Leaking? Sinking? So what now, skipper?
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