The leak is under control. Should SUNBEAM carry on with the planned day sail or head straight back to harbour?

A. Anchor where you are and wait, rather than moving in either direction

B. Head back to harbour to have the leak properly repaired — a temporary bung is not a permanent fix and could fail later, especially if conditions get rougher

C. Carry on with the original plan — the leak is fixed and there is no reason to change course

D. Speed up to finish the day sail faster before anything else can go wrong

A. Check the engine first — water is always caused by engine problems

B. Tell the skipper immediately and check how fast the water level is rising — is it a trickle or rising quickly? This tells you how serious it is

C. Start bailing immediately without telling anyone else

D. Put the floorboard back and carry on — a little water is always normal on a boat

A. Assume it is rainwater and ignore it — no need to look for a source

B. Radio for help immediately before checking anything on the boat

C. Check the seacocks (the valves where pipes pass through the hull, e.g. for the toilet or engine cooling) — these are the most common source. Also check the stern gland (where the propeller shaft passes through), hose clips, and the bilge pump itself

D. Check only the deck hatches — water always comes from above, never below the waterline