I am a new sailor, and was out the other day in 10 to 15 knots. I reallydid well, but a couple of gusts had me heel over to about 30 degrees. Was I at the brink of capsize? How do you know when you are going to capsize? I dont mind if I do, its just the water is a little too cold to get in. Any advice is appreciated thanks, Saiing into the sunset.
Almost?
- Thread starter rkeene
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Hello rkeene, Welcome to the SBO site. First, always wear an appropriate life jacket for your body build and weight. Second, RE: capsize.... If you are looking past your toes and you see water you are near the point of no return! (Only kidding on that measurement). Third, sailing in light wind conditions might be a wise choice until you feel more able to react nearly instinctively to puffs/gusts. Finally, reading sailing related instructional books may help, although that is no replacement for practice. That reading could probably include some of the scientific information on stability and point of effort/point of resistance as they relate to sailboats. 31seahorse
I'd add that when it get's gusty, make sure your mainsheet isn't cleated (if your boat isn't too big to do this, comfortably). Just hold onto it and let go when a gust hits. This should depower the mainsail and prevent those scary moments. Over time you'll get to know the boat better and gain confidence in what she can handle. 30 degrees of heel isn't bad, you just have to get used to it.
Greg22 gives good advice.... don't cleat the mainsheet. Tiller in one hand, main in the other. After a while you can use the two in conjunction to keep the boat flat. Small boats with centerboards and flat bottom hulls are designed to be sailed relatively flat... allowing them to often get up on plane to really go fast.
Remember also that as the TRUE wind speed picks up the APPARENT wind direction will move AFT... That means the wind will hit the sails more from the side than before....so your strategy is to ease the sheet to maintain the same angle of attack on the sail and reduce heeling... or... steer to windward (head up) to keep the same angle without adjusting the sail.
On some boats there is a third option... that is to extend your own body weight out board... (hiking out) or even hooking on to a special wire (trapeze) that gets your entire body mass out to windward to counteract the heeling action. You're not ready for this yet.
If you don't make one of these adjustments (altering course, trimming sails, hiking out) the sideways force on the sail will increase and push the boat over more (heel). When the boat heels too much the rudder will lose its attachment and the boat will round up violently (broach) or maybe even capsize.
So the easiest way to control it is to keep the sheet in your hand so you can feel the wind pressure changes.
Remember also that as the TRUE wind speed picks up the APPARENT wind direction will move AFT... That means the wind will hit the sails more from the side than before....so your strategy is to ease the sheet to maintain the same angle of attack on the sail and reduce heeling... or... steer to windward (head up) to keep the same angle without adjusting the sail.
On some boats there is a third option... that is to extend your own body weight out board... (hiking out) or even hooking on to a special wire (trapeze) that gets your entire body mass out to windward to counteract the heeling action. You're not ready for this yet.
If you don't make one of these adjustments (altering course, trimming sails, hiking out) the sideways force on the sail will increase and push the boat over more (heel). When the boat heels too much the rudder will lose its attachment and the boat will round up violently (broach) or maybe even capsize.
So the easiest way to control it is to keep the sheet in your hand so you can feel the wind pressure changes.
Joe's right: head up or sheet out on the same course. Another option is to "bail" 
by really easing the mainsheet and heading off to a beam reach or more. Think about it depending on where you want to go, what's in the way !!! or an alternative destination.
Good luck, sounds like you had fun, we all love that kinda sailing.
BUY DON'S BOOK
by really easing the mainsheet and heading off to a beam reach or more. Think about it depending on where you want to go, what's in the way !!! or an alternative destination.Good luck, sounds like you had fun, we all love that kinda sailing.
BUY DON'S BOOK
Hello Rkeene. Have you tried to capsize it and right it under a controlled situation to practice for the real deal?
This time of year ...
How cold is your water? If it is in the 50's or lower then you really should sail that boat with at least a wetsuit (obviously wearing it!). If you capsize and can't get her righted quickly, hypothermia is a real danger. Your strength can be entirely sapped in minutes. Every once in a while, we hear tragedies which happen when people get out on new sailboats very early in the season, when the water temp is cold. Many new sailors are not really aware of the danger of capsizing in very cold water. In the summer, it can be a lark ... when the water is cold, it's a different story.
I would prefer a wetsuit over life jacket. Life jackets won't keep you from losing your strength. You can die fairly easily if you are floating in your pfd but lose the strength to swim or climb out. Besides, there is flotation in wetsuits, (not that the CG recognizes it). Many people can float quite easily without moving simply by wearing a wetsuit, especially the thicker ones.
How cold is your water? If it is in the 50's or lower then you really should sail that boat with at least a wetsuit (obviously wearing it!). If you capsize and can't get her righted quickly, hypothermia is a real danger. Your strength can be entirely sapped in minutes. Every once in a while, we hear tragedies which happen when people get out on new sailboats very early in the season, when the water temp is cold. Many new sailors are not really aware of the danger of capsizing in very cold water. In the summer, it can be a lark ... when the water is cold, it's a different story.
I would prefer a wetsuit over life jacket. Life jackets won't keep you from losing your strength. You can die fairly easily if you are floating in your pfd but lose the strength to swim or climb out. Besides, there is flotation in wetsuits, (not that the CG recognizes it). Many people can float quite easily without moving simply by wearing a wetsuit, especially the thicker ones.
Thank You to all that have responded, I do need more practice, and have read Sailing Fundamentals, I will put all the advice and experience to use tommorrow. It was a blast and scary at the same time, kinda like when I raced motorcycles, Thanks again guys.
I think I read that your boat is self-bailing. They also make the claim that it is stable and has a deep cockpit. Don't misunderstand, it will capsize quite readily - just about any 14-foot boat will. That's why the self-bailing is useful. It's what makes small boats fun. It should also be righted quite readily when the bow is pointed into the wind. If you right her with stern into the wind, she can sail off on ya for a little while and may capsize again while you're swimming after her.
Speaking from experience on my Bandit 15, you know when you capsize, that seconds before you were about to. So I endorse the wet suit suggestion, or dry suit.
I started with a 14.5' day sailor (Demon) that was very fast and extremely unforgiving. I spent a lot of time in the water and learned to right the boat pretty quickly. At less than 400 lbs, your boat should be pretty easy to get up if you do capsize and you should pick a day with nice weather and water conditions and purposely try to capsize the boat, you'll find out that it's not that big a deal. Something you might consider as you are learning to sail is try using only the main or only the jib on windier days
Have fun.
Have fun.
Hi rkeene and welcome to sailing! I have a 14.6 and it is a reasonably forgiving boat and will round up (turn into the wind) in a puff pretty quick. 30 degrees of heel is definitely more than you want for comfort and safety in that boat, and as others have said above, dinghies like to be sailed pretty flat. Having said that, it's a good boat to learn on as it is not overpowered, has basic sail controls, and is fairly sensitive to small adjustments, which helps you learn what helps and what hurts. As for self-bailing -- well, only if you pull the plugs while underway. I'd keep a bailer handy. Enjoy your 14.6 and don't be surprised when the urge to move up to something bigger strikes you!
Well I went out and capsized her , not on purpose. It was a learning experience, and has taught me alot. My wife didnt like it too much.But we are safe and noone was hurt. Next time will be alot easier. looking forward to it, but will let the water warm up a bit. thanks to all your advice and comments