Visit our Popular Forums

writer859 · 14-09-2011, 14:01

Hello All,

I am a writer and I am working on a story that involves a sailing accident. I have dabbled in sailing over the years and it has become a central piece in one of my characters. The setting is in Vancouver and the main character is attempting to sail around Vancouver Island. While I feel comfortable with the technicalities of sailing, I'm not sure what kind of unfortunate accident could befall our hero. I am aiming for something that is believable and not an operator error, or at least not entirely. Given the location, what would work here? I cast myself and my story on your judgement and hope that there are some other creative minds out there who can lend a hand.

Thank you all!

**boatman61** · 14-09-2011, 14:06

Fluke of wind gybes the main while goose winging.... knocks his bludi head off...

Oh... Sorry... Greetings n Welcome to CF mate...

perchance · 14-09-2011, 14:10

Running into floating logs would be fairly commonplace I would think given the setting of the story.

Dsanduril · 14-09-2011, 14:13

How's this:

Event (wave, gust of wind - see above, bad feud with crew) knocks hero overboard. He is attached by a six foot tether to the boat, but being dragged along as the boat sails itself. Has to manage to get himself (herself?) back on the boat. Mighty struggles, many bruises, very cold, but finally manages it.

1999 Double Handed Farallones

Jacana · 14-09-2011, 14:17

A giant deadly bloodthirsty killer otter creeps up the head out flow pipe and bites him on the bum.'''Ouch'''

Matt sachs · 14-09-2011, 14:53

Lets say you anchored with the wrong anchor so it drug down wind of a smoker that was to close. You tried to use wasp spray to chase them off but they just cranked up their honda generator and went below deck. The windless wasn't strong enough to hoist up the 300ft stainless chain because its been overcast and your solar panels didn't keep your bank full. The engine failed because of dirty fuel, (no polisher) the weather kicked up and a rouge wave....... These are the topics of a few of the threads here on CF, this could be fun.

Oh, BTW welcome to CF. Hope you don't mind having a little fun with your post.

writer859 · 14-09-2011, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt sachs

Hope you don't mind having a little fun with your post.

Not at all, thanks to everyone for their creativity and keep it coming, your jokes may actually make it to the page

Though I should mention two people die in this accident....

Ocean Girl · 14-09-2011, 15:13

Collision, a sailors biggest fear.
Mrs. Rain Dog

**boatman61** · 14-09-2011, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by writer859

Not at all, thanks to everyone for their creativity and keep it coming, your jokes may actually make it to the page

Though I should mention two people die in this accident....

The other one has a heart attack when the head lands in his lap.....

Or he leaps up in shock and the boom catches him on the way back.... BOOM BOOM....

Rakuflames · 14-09-2011, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by writer859

Hello All,

I am a writer and I am working on a story that involves a sailing accident. I have dabbled in sailing over the years and it has become a central piece in one of my characters. The setting is in Vancouver and the main character is attempting to sail around Vancouver Island. While I feel comfortable with the technicalities of sailing, I'm not sure what kind of unfortunate accident could befall our hero. I am aiming for something that is believable and not an operator error, or at least not entirely. Given the location, what would work here? I cast myself and my story on your judgement and hope that there are some other creative minds out there who can lend a hand.

Thank you all!

How about having the mast fall down? Any number of things can cause it, but a primary one is having a boat where it's hard to check the chainplates. It can do a lot of damage to the boat, and it can do a lot of damage to the passengers.

Rakuflames · 14-09-2011, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by writer859

Not at all, thanks to everyone for their creativity and keep it coming, your jokes may actually make it to the page

Though I should mention two people die in this accident....

It's hard to kill TWO people. I think you have to sink the boat. Even if they get out, that water's cold and hypothermia kicks in fast.

Rakuflames · 14-09-2011, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

It's hard to kill TWO people. I think you have to sink the boat. Even if they get out, that water's cold and hypothermia kicks in fast.

Oh by the way, one way to sink the boat is to have them screw up with either the spinnaker or the headsail (would have to be on hanks, I think). If those suckers scoop up enough water they can pull the boat down like a torpedo. It happened in Tampa Bay a couple of years ago during a race -- the Michelob Cup, I think, in case you want to research it. In that case, everyone survived, but the water was undoubtedly a lot warmer.

It was blowing up a storm. That kind of thing is most likely to happen in rough seas, so you would probably want them on the Pacific side of the island.

zeehag · 14-09-2011, 15:49

biiiiiig pnw storm with the 98 mph winds someone on this forum denies arrive in san diego, and biiiig seas about 60 ft in height and the flimsy lil catalina 27 cannot handle it and breaks up at sea and all hands die including the pet whatever.....