I'm a novelist & could use some sailing expertise!
Disclaimer: I am not a sailor or boater of any type (so please be gentle . . . and clear in any replies)
Disclaimer #2: This is a novel, so the drama element might require suspension of belief on the question of how the characters landed up in this quandary.
Setting: Sailing on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. The characters have heaved-to (hope that's the right term) & had some lunch, drifted off to sleep under sunny skies. Wake up to find a giant supercell looming overhead (it's late June by the way). Too far to try and get to the nearest dock or marina. They are stuck & need to ride it out.
What would the sailor (the guy) do, if anything, to secure the boat before heading below deck? I've described heavy rain, lightning all around, dark skies, greenish hue to the sky, choppy heavy waves, howling wind - that all seems right. Assuming the actual tornado (or water spout) moved over the boat - what might happen? At the moment, I've described things sliding around in the cabinets inside the boat, the boat moving quite a bit.
My sense is that the NOVEL needs amped-up conflict/drama, even if the reality is that maybe that's all that might happen. Any thoughts on this? If wind blew out window(s) in the hatch, what then? Any likelihood of the hatch door being ripped off?
Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated -- thanks so much!
Disclaimer: I am not a sailor or boater of any type (so please be gentle . . . and clear in any replies)
Disclaimer #2: This is a novel, so the drama element might require suspension of belief on the question of how the characters landed up in this quandary.
Setting: Sailing on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. The characters have heaved-to (hope that's the right term) & had some lunch, drifted off to sleep under sunny skies. Wake up to find a giant supercell looming overhead (it's late June by the way). Too far to try and get to the nearest dock or marina. They are stuck & need to ride it out.
What would the sailor (the guy) do, if anything, to secure the boat before heading below deck? I've described heavy rain, lightning all around, dark skies, greenish hue to the sky, choppy heavy waves, howling wind - that all seems right. Assuming the actual tornado (or water spout) moved over the boat - what might happen? At the moment, I've described things sliding around in the cabinets inside the boat, the boat moving quite a bit.
My sense is that the NOVEL needs amped-up conflict/drama, even if the reality is that maybe that's all that might happen. Any thoughts on this? If wind blew out window(s) in the hatch, what then? Any likelihood of the hatch door being ripped off?
Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated -- thanks so much!