What to do when your yacht hits a rock under autopilot

After a navigation error leads to a 4-knot grounding in the Hebrides, Rachael Sprot explains how to assess hull damage and manage the crew

Emma and Karl are cruising the Outer Hebrides aboard their Sweden 390, Vision. They put the boat on autopilot after leaving Stornoway harbour whilst they rig for a spinnaker run up the Minch to Kinlochbervie, before rounding Cape Wrath to Orkney the following day.

They each assume that the other is keeping an eye on the course, and neither of them...