Advice needed

[abm2812]

Hello everyone. I realise this is an unconventional question for this forum but I wonder if I could ask your advice on sailing in a thunderstorm. I’m a children’s author and I’m currently writing a book where a group of kids uncover a kidnap plot and help to bring the villains to justice. In the climax, two teenagers escape from the kidnappers by taking their two person sailing dinghy and sailing it down the coast for about ten miles in a thunderstorm. The kids are both experienced sailors, but am I being a bit naive to think a two person dinghy would be OK in these kinds of weather conditions? My experience of sailing is limited to crewing on a sunny day, and I’m wondering if the wind and rain might make this journey impossible. Many thanks for any advice you can give.

 

[SaltIre]

Ignoring the "thunder" bit, a storm would make it more exciting! If you include something about your intrepid heroes reefing the mainsail as the wind increased you should be OK.

Edit: As Farmer Piles says sailing with just the jib up is more plausible - Not many dinghies have a mainsail reefing system.

 

[dankilb]

Yeah perfectly possible to have thunder/lightening amidst a sea state that small boats could still navigate. I’d try to emphasise the ‘squall’ aspect - ‘storm’, at least in Europe with the convention of naming them, does increasingly denote a longer-lasting weather system that could whip the sea state to that which wouldn’t be safely navigable (even by larger craft). Think “Storm Eunice” or whatever. Although I appreciate these are actually low pressure systems and not, always/typically, ‘thunderstorms’.

 

[johnalison]

Not all thunderstorms are accompanied by strong winds, so you can contrive whatever conditions you wish. There might be a problem with rainwater filling the dinghy enough to need bailing out, and anything from a proper bailer to a hat can be used. The chances of actually being hit by lightning are quite small, though it can happen. If the wind dies, as it often does, it could take them a couple of hours to do the ten miles.

 

[dunedin]

Been in a few thunderstorms in dinghies. I tried to keep well away from the metal stays which hold up the mast. When sailing normally the crew tends to be right up against them going upwind.
But to get away fast hopefully the squall is blowing from behind, and hence all crew right at the back to keep the bows up, and therefore as far as possible from mast and stays (not that would make much difference if got direct strike)

 

[jamie N]

If it's raining the experienced teens will put the Elvstrom self bailer down and broad reach the 10 miles to safety, planing all of the way across the black & white water, with the fluorescent white spray from the wind seemingly lightening the depths, and the very dark skies further dulled by the brightness of the sun shining on their immaculate white sails, perhaps even deploying the blue & white spinnaker to further speed their journey to freedom?
Perhaps.

 

[Farmer Piles]

If it's raining the experienced teens will put the Elvstrom self bailer down and broad reach the 10 miles to safety, planing all of the way across the black & white water, with the fluorescent white spray from the wind seemingly lightening the depths, and the very dark skies further dulled by the brightness of the sun shining on their immaculate white sails, perhaps even deploying the blue & white spinnaker to further speed their journey to freedom?
Perhaps.

When is your book being published?

 

[Farmer Piles]

Hi abm,
I think that your finale sounds both exciting and very plausible. As the guys above said, you can add as much wind or rain as you wish, have them paddling in a dark glassy sea or fighting the elements with just a jib up.
I'm sure that I echo the sentiments of the others when I say let us know the title and when it hits the shelves.

 

[abm2812]

When is your book being published?

It should be out early October. I'm not sure what it's going to be called yet, but it's the fifth book in a series called The Sophie Watson Adventure Mystery series. Two teenage girls defeat the evil supervillains and save the world type of stories.

 

[abm2812]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I really appreciate your recommendations and advice.