Headed out of the marina, and round the breakwater onto Lake Erie, with the family and grandkids for a day anchored out nearby. Probably had 3-5' waves outside the breakwall, but where we were heading was in the lee of the waves. All of a sudden (isn't it always?) the forward bilge alarm lights and buzzes! I had the helm to the admiral and hurry down the steps into the pilot house and then down the steps into the main cabin and forward to the forward cabin. Lifting open the hatch to the forward bilge, sure enough, the bilge has water in it, the pump is running, and I see water streaming down the side of the hull in the bilge! There is a bunk on this side of the cabin, and I lift the mattress to open the storage lid below it, and see water running down the side of the hull there. So, I pull the mattress out from the side and see water puddling at the side below the mattress. about that same time, we dive into another wave, and I see the porthole open slightly and water pour in through the screen. The port had been dropped, but not dogged down, and every time a wave hit the side of the bow, water was pouring in through the porthole.
Easy fix, but it took my pulse awhile to settle back down. Usually, the Admiral automatically checks all the portholes as we are preparing to leave the dock. She also did in this case, except she had not been aware that this porthole had at some point been opened (we rarely open the forward cabin ports), and just glanced at it without noticing that it hadn't been dogged down. Normally she checks each one with a batton, but hadn't climbed over the bunk to do this one on this one occasion - and it bit us. Only real damage was having to pull out the mattress and linens onto the deck to dry out. Lesson learned.