how was the ship affected by the storm? what did the travelers do to save themselves?
The storm had affected the Wavewalker severely, as result of which it was near capsizing with her masts almost horizontal. The decks were smashed and there was water everywhere; the author could feel that the ship had water below too. Broken timbers hung at crazy angles, the whole starboard side bulged inwards; clothes, crockery, charts, tins and toys sloshed about in deep water. After some time the author found that the hand pumps had started to block up with the debris floating around the cabins and the electric pump had short-circuited. The water level rose threateningly. Back on deck he found their two spare hand pumps wrenched overboard — along with the forestay sail, the jib, the dinghies and the main anchor. All of the ship’s main rib frames were smashed down to the keel. In fact, there was nothing holding up a whole section of the starboard hull except a few cupboard partitions.
After having been tossed around by the huge waves initially, the author somehow managed to find the wheel, lined up the stern for the next wave and hung on. Though he could feel that the ship had water below, he dared not abandon the wheel to investigate. It was when his wife Mary came in to inform him of the condition of the ship could he leave to investigate after handing over the wheel to her. Seeing the two crewmen Larry and Herb pumping like madmen, he headed towards the children’s cabin. After making sure that they were alright he found a hammer, screws and canvas, which he took back on the deck for repairing the starboard side. Somehow he managed to stretch canvas and secure waterproof hatch covers across the gaping holes. Though some water continued to stream below, most of it was being deflected over the side. Next he found the hand pumps blocked with debris and two of the spare hand pumps wrenched overboard. However, they had another electric pump under the chartroom floor, which he connected to an out-pipe and was thankful to find that it worked. This is how the travellers aboard the Wavewalker managed to save themselves from the onslaught of the fierce storm.
After having been tossed around by the huge waves initially, the author somehow managed to find the wheel, lined up the stern for the next wave and hung on. Though he could feel that the ship had water below, he dared not abandon the wheel to investigate. It was when his wife Mary came in to inform him of the condition of the ship could he leave to investigate after handing over the wheel to her. Seeing the two crewmen Larry and Herb pumping like madmen, he headed towards the children’s cabin. After making sure that they were alright he found a hammer, screws and canvas, which he took back on the deck for repairing the starboard side. Somehow he managed to stretch canvas and secure waterproof hatch covers across the gaping holes. Though some water continued to stream below, most of it was being deflected over the side. Next he found the hand pumps blocked with debris and two of the spare hand pumps wrenched overboard. However, they had another electric pump under the chartroom floor, which he connected to an out-pipe and was thankful to find that it worked. This is how the travellers aboard the Wavewalker managed to save themselves from the onslaught of the fierce storm.