In Illinois (in my youth), like Dorthoy's home in Kansas, we had one of those basement cellar doors from the outside -- but it lead to an areaway with a "door" on th inside.

One can only imagine taking a wave with that door -- or imagine a big wave or wind slamming is down on you!

I'm not sure what the "designer" of that boat was demonstrating with that boat.

The rig looked like a real diaster wating to happen too. The bowsprit genoa looks like a widow maker to me in proportion to the rest of the rig.