Sailing Dinghy.

[Refueler]

To be fair, a bigger dinghy is a bigger problem to right after capsize.

Wish I had a photo of me standing ineffectually on my centreboard after capsizing, five years ago last June.

Back then I had no masthead float and no righting lines, and I didn't dare stand further from the gunwale than I could reach. I was surprised how inert she seemed for a long time, even with only a few feet of mast immersed. It felt like I wasn't on the centreboard at all.

I think turning turtle would be beyond independent recovery for me, hence the masthead float now. Just on her side, the boat initially felt immovable. There was no sense that she'd pivot easily on her longitudinal axis and bob obligingly upwards. It was hard work.

I believe that with righting lines attached, and me leaning back much further out on the centreboard, the righting moment would improve a lot. Even without, the boat eventually came upright.

But I'm not especially keen to practice it. ?

One of the problems with righting - is that the sails initially appear to sit on the surface - but as you start to pivot the boat - they soon take on water carrier status ... IF you can - makes sure sheets are loose before you start .. to let sails empty water as they break surface.
I was lucky in this as I have always been a little heavy (!) ... but I've seen kids right Mirrors and even a GP14 size ...

 

[Greenheart]

Hmm, I don't remember if I released the mainsheet or not. I must have let go of it, but it might have been cleated. I just held on to the tiller extension which bent in half.

I had tied too small a stopper-knot in my toestrap-adjuster line. When all my weight was levering upward on the toestraps, the knot slipped through the clamcleat, I dropped backwards over the side, and things went a bit green for a while.

Not a mistake I'll repeat, hopefully.
.

 

[Gixer]

Learnt to sail in an Enterprise ...... wish I had one now.

I've owned a couple of Enterprises one was E15, I think it was the oldest non prototype still sailing, wonder where it is now??

I moved onto a Westerly Nimrod, sailed like a dinghy but with an iron swing keel and a cuddy, quick boat.

 

[Refueler]

I've owned a couple of Enterprises one was E15, I think it was the oldest non prototype still sailing, wonder where it is now??

I moved onto a Westerly Nimrod, sailed like a dinghy but with an iron swing keel and a cuddy, quick boat.

My first 'own' non dinghy - was an Alacrity 19. Had some great times with it .. and that also sailed like a dinghy with a top on.

Enterprises come up on eBay ... would be nice if I could fiddle one back to here ... but I think it would be a bit hard to hide from Customs ...

I have thought about a dated receipt saying bought BEFORE Brexit .. see if Lat Customs would go for it ... but my enquiries to my Customs pal are not positive about it.

 

[Gixer]

Let me stay in your caravan by the lake for a week and i'll tow one out to you behind my van

 

[Caraway]

To be fair, a bigger dinghy is a bigger problem to right after capsize.

Wish I had a photo of me standing ineffectually on my centreboard after capsizing, five years ago last June.

Back then I had no masthead float and no righting lines, and I didn't dare stand further from the gunwale than I could reach. I was surprised how inert she seemed for a long time, even with only a few feet of mast immersed. It felt like I wasn't on the centreboard at all.

I think turning turtle would be beyond independent recovery for me, hence the masthead float now. Just on her side, the boat initially felt immovable. There was no sense that she'd pivot easily on her longitudinal axis and bob obligingly upwards. It was hard work.

I believe that with righting lines attached, and me leaning back much further out on the centreboard, the righting moment would improve a lot. Even without, the boat eventually came upright.

But I'm not especially keen to practice it. ?

My 'friend' bought a Solo and decided to practice Capsize Drill. Essential if you are older, as reaction times are slowing down.
It went OK regards righting, but old bones and less than lithe muscles make actually getting back into the bloody thing awkward. A line over the stern with a foot loop helped, but wasn't the complete answer.

 

[Greenheart]

I moved onto a Westerly Nimrod, sailed like a dinghy but with an iron swing keel and a cuddy, quick boat.

The Nimrod is a long-running obsession of mine...

...seems like a great combination of a big, open, dinghy-style cockpit (unlike the otherwise-excellent Swift 18, which squeezes the cockpit into a very short space)...

...plus an unashamed bubble of a cabin, and total trailability. It even struck me that its beam would allow exploration of the UK's canals.

With a fixed-keel yacht, I missed being able to visit shallows without a thought. It's an element of dinghy-versatility that I haven't happily stepped away from, and which creates (for me) appeal in lots of lifting-keel yachts which I'd otherwise never have shown interest in.

I like seeing a large sea-going vessel, especially a sailing vessel, far up a river or creek where no fixed-keel yacht can reach.

 

[Gixer]

The Nimrod is a long-running obsession of mine...

I do miss mine, I bought it out of a barn where it had sat for many years. Knew nothing about this boat but instantly fell in love with it.
No electrics, mast I could raise on my own, add a 3.5hp outboard, simple sailing at its best.

 

[Refueler]

Let me stay in your caravan by the lake for a week and i'll tow one out to you behind my van

My caravan ? Its actually the River Venta which flows into the Baltic sea ...

Would love to accept the offer .. but things are still work in progress here round the mobile home ...

 

[Gixer]

I was only joking, after watching your videos I spotted the mobile home, it looks like a stunning place for a holiday

 

[Refueler]

My 'friend' bought a Solo and decided to practice Capsize Drill. Essential if you are older, as reaction times are slowing down.
It went OK regards righting, but old bones and less than lithe muscles make actually getting back into the bloody thing awkward. A line over the stern with a foot loop helped, but wasn't the complete answer.

It took a while for me to get the hang of it ... but Bosun at Seamanship Centre Cattewater made us do it again and again until we got it right ... boy was that water cold !! And even being 17 - 18yrs old at time - was totally knackered by time we got back ashore ...

Get what right ? Standing on CB and pulling on halyard or trapeze line to right the GP14 .... as it rights - other guy to roll in and CB guy to fall into boat as it comes on top of him ...

We were out there for ages repeating it ... doubt after all these years I could still do it ... but boy oh boy ... do I remember it !

 

[Refueler]

I was only joking, after watching your videos I spotted the mobile home, it looks like a stunning place for a holiday

The river is a great fishing venue - my channel is full and keeps me happy ....
The mobile is for guests later once we complete works ..

You'd be welcome later ..

 

[Caraway]

It took a while for me to get the hang of it ... but Bosun at Seamanship Centre Cattewater made us do it again and again until we got it right ... boy was that water cold !! And even being 17 - 18yrs old at time - was totally knackered by time we got back ashore ...

Get what right ? Standing on CB and pulling on halyard or trapeze line to right the GP14 .... as it rights - other guy to roll in and CB guy to fall into boat as it comes on top of him ...

We were out there for ages repeating it ... doubt after all these years I could still do it ... but boy oh boy ... do I remember it !

Even just reacting quickly when sailing is not easy for older buggers. Forgetting to hold onto the tiller must be an age thing ......

 

[Greenheart]

pulling on halyard or trapeze line to right the GP14 ...other guy to roll in and CB guy to fall into boat as it comes on top of him ..

Hmm, "the other guy"...that's the tricky bit, if you singlehand.

Having righted the Osprey (and oh lord, she comes up fast when you finally persuade her) she rolled on and capsized the other side...

...several times. What a pity nobody was catching it on camera.

I know it's a matter of getting over the gunwale and countering the roll as she comes upright, but the Osprey is as wide as I am tall and twice my weight, and who knows what tangle of lines may obstruct the cockpit after capsize...and I'm only getting older and slower...

...on balance I'm prepared to avoid launching on days when a dunking is likely. It's bother I can live without.

Any weekend now, I'll return to this thread to report on my latest calamitous capsize. ?

 

[Refueler]

Yes the 'other' guy tends to help retard the pendulum effect ...

As regards dinghys ... guy keeps a Wayfarer just along at the Boat Station from me and another dinghy of unknown make ... but both with gaff rigged red sails ....

I watch him odd days calmly ghosting along ... mind in neutral ... not a care ...

 

[Greenheart]

Go on, catch a photo, I wanna see a gaff-rigged Wayfarer.

 

[Stemar]

but old bones and less than lithe muscles make actually getting back into the bloody thing awkward.

That's why I got rid of my Mirror. Unlikely I'd tip it over unless spectacularly unlucky and/or stupid, but knowing my capacity for spectacular stupidity...