Capsize Drill Went Ahead, Despite The Weather

Lakesailor

Lakesailor

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The weather nearly scuppered my plans to try a capsize drill on my "new" dinghy, but I persevered and managed to recover a capsize and a full turtle.
I just don't know when the weather is going to improve.

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Being a creaking gate I found getting back into the dinghy a bit difficult. I may junk the recovery line, which I didn't really need and hang a line with a stirrup loop at the transom.
I wore a knitted hat as a precaution against the boom cracking me on the head.

The Chinese couple in the rowing boat in the full-turtle part of the vid managed to actually ram me whilst I was tidying up after a short sail. I was tethered to Smudger at the time. :eek:

I told them the error of their ways, but I'm sure they did not understand. My Safety Officer in Smudger speaks fluent Mandarin, but it wasn't until later we thought it would have been great for him to have had a go at them in their own language ...... :D
 
Floats quite high on her side, doesn't she ?

At least didn't seem over keen to turtle, I was very disappointed with my Contender on that aspect, after the Class Association assured me it didn't !

As I 'cruised' rather than raced, I took to hoisting a 2 pint milk bottle at the head of the sail.

It didn't look too easy getting back into the Solo, maybe the nifty-over-the-high-side-onto-the-board move might be favourite, it would hopefully make getting back in a lot easier; as long as the boat doesn't come over the other way towards you, as it looked like for a moment in the 1st test.

However congrats on having the brains & balls to do the tests, we did this once with a doggy old wood Int 14 and found all the seams bubbling as it sank, and a guy ran down the slip to us; not to help, just to take a photo then bu**er off again...:rolleyes:
 
If you look at the first test I have a fender on the halyard at the top of the mast. I think that is what caused the pendulum effect.
When I took it off to do the turtle test the boat was a lot more stable.

But judging by the the way capsizing was simply a matter of sitting on the gunwhale, I thing getting aboard there may be a bit tricky. I'm not sure I could run up the centreboard and in that quick.
 
I'd definitely give the 'high side' method a try, I think it's much easier, though of course it's not always possible, such as when piling in on a fast run.

If the fender weight is that noticeable I can as mentioned recommend a plastic milk bottle, paint it dayglo and they'll all want one !
 
It all looked rather agile to me. Perhaps in a strong wind you will only need to get a leg over, bit of a thrust on the old dagger and up she pops without even getting wet!
 
About 20 years ago I vowed never to sail on anything without a substantial lump of lead on the bottom, a roof, a sit down toilet and a grill capable of making toast.

I see nothing in that video that would make me revisit that decision.

Does look good when it's sailing along though, no doubt some proper dingy sailors wil be along to offer tips on trim and sail trim.
 
Seajet said:
Floats quite high on her side, doesn't she ?

(snip)
Click to expand...

She didn't when my son went over with the tanks 1/2 full of water! :D


Couple of comments, Phil.

I would remove the mast head fender, she was quite reluctant to turtle & the tanks seem to be doing their job properly now.

I think a bungee line to hold the Centreboard down would be helpful as it looked as though it might retract itself at one point & you would then have to go round to make it drop again.

If you can climb up the side of the boat holding the centreboard it will right itself very quickly & you should be able to roll over the gunwhale as it comes down. I do this with the Laser, but never actually capsized the Solo myself. This way your weight in the bottom of the hull will help stabilise it as you sort yourself out. This may sound tricky, but believe me it is a LOT easier & less tiring than trying to climb in to an empty boat from the water.

I hope you have the confidence to really give her a bit of welly next time! :D

And finally, thanks for the update, it's lovely to see her up & about again.
 
Searush said:
I hope you have the confidence to really give her a bit of welly next time! :D
Click to expand...
Again, the wind was a bit light. But that suited the capsize drill. The mainsheet has too many components. It takes ages to sheet in. I may try missing out a boom block, The sheet loads are not high.
Also, you can't quite hear it but I was telling my mate that a batten was slipping out of the sail so I had to stop and the sail gave problems during hoisting again which I think I have narrowed down to a tear in the pocket on the bolt rope.
In all the sail was a bit like a bag. Next time it should be a proper shape.

I'm not bothering with the mast-head float again. The Solo site was full of dire warnings about the things turning turtle, but as you can see I had to really pull it over.

As I'm not actually planning on falling over a lot I'll make do with a strop at the transom with a loop in for a foothold. It may be that I can get in over the side, but if not that is my fall-back.

The centre board did slip down. There is an adjustable friction device which I will ratchet up a bit.
 
Vara said:
About 20 years ago I vowed never to sail on anything without a substantial lump of lead on the bottom, a roof, a sit down toilet and a grill capable of making toast.

I see nothing in that video that would make me revisit that decision.

Does look good when it's sailing along though, no doubt some proper dingy sailors wil be along to offer tips on trim and sail trim.
Click to expand...
I thought the same as you, but had a hoot today.
 
Nice work LS.

About 30 years ago I used to sail a Solo with sail number 2288. At the time I always reckoned to be able to get on to the c/board whilst capsizing and back into the boat without getting into the water at all.* Bet I couldn't now.

* Did this once during a race, in full view of clubhouse, managed to miss the centreboard altogether which didn't look at all stylish, albeit that I may have been awarded a few extra marks for the balletic way in which I plunged into the water. :D
 
I once took out my Osprey with a chum and a couple of girls we were keen to impress.

Through concentrating on the girls instead of the boat we managed to capsize, and I in my wetsuit managed to go over the high side onto the board and keep dry, so cracked open a beer I caught floating past and sat on the board as they swam around.

I was thinking " God I must seem cool " when my target girlie swam up, " you look just like a pixie up there ! "

I knew then I was going home alone...:rolleyes:
 
I had considered trying the keep-dry technique, but that wouldn't have taught me anything. Plus the pitiful wind meant a weight-induced capsize was required.
To be honest, that is the most likely cause of a capsize here as sailing into a hole in the wind is one of the more frustrating aspects of the lakes.

Just got to get the hang of tacking without a headsail now......
 
Lakesailor said:
I had considered trying the keep-dry technique, but that wouldn't have taught me anything. Plus the pitiful wind meant a weight-induced capsize was required.
To be honest, that is the most likely cause of a capsize here as sailing into a hole in the wind is one of the more frustrating aspects of the lakes.

Just got to get the hang of tacking without a headsail now......
Click to expand...

You can't get any simpler Phil. You need a little speed to guarantee momentum, but other than that the only difference is one less sheet to fiddle with.

What could possibly go wrong? :D :D

Holes in the wind will be an issue, you MUST make sure your toes are under the straps & your tummy muscles will get a good workout. This may not be good news for your back - or it might just probably cure the problem!
 
Having raced a Wayfarer for some 20yrs and seeing a number of older people struggle with a capsize (esp. in the cold!) I fitted a polyproplene line (it floats) to each shroud position.

I then knotted the line at approx 300 intervals and knotted a loop to get my foot into at exactly the right depth to climb back into the boat with a wet suit full of water.

We always go for it when racing and fly the spinaker even when conditions dictate that sensible people should not!!

I now recognise 3 conditions:-

1. Overpowered and starting to capsize - I then throw myself over the side grabbing the line, boat round up and I climb back on board and boat has shipped only a little water. Helm has stayed in boat!

2. Boat capsizes but only on its side and I prevent inverting by grabing centre board. To assist balance and leverage swimming helm (sometimes the lazy cow [oppsSWMBO!!] is still in the hull) passes me the knotted line from the in the water side and I pull on this. With a GRP sheaded centre board it can be slippery so knotted rope helps.

3. Boat inverted - take knotted line from far side (swimming helm can throw it over) and pull yourself onto hull. Pull on rope while standing to one side as it gives more leverage and only go to sit on centre board as boat starts to come up.

We managed to sail out the water with the small self bailers by going on a reach and completed the race on most occassions yet noticed those without a knotted rope took so long they mostly retired.

Hope this idea helps others - if you race a Wayfarer and do the open circuit please ignore all above advice - we need all the edge we can get!!
 
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I've got some very good videos bookmarked on my desktop which show exactly how to do several manoeuvres. I was more meaning that I need to get some practice in.

Everyone has to develop their own techniques, When you see a fit youngster spring off the leeward thwart under the boom to windward I think "Hmm. That'll be a 2-attempt jobby for me." :D
 
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