I'm a novice sailor with little experience in the Capri 14.2 I bought last year. Does anyone have experience with righting the boat after a capsize when sailing solo? Can this boat turn turtle? Wondering if I should buy a mast float. Thanks.
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dinghy sailing
All the classes I've had with various small boats from sabots, lasers, lidos, hobie's etc, we had to intentionally capsize and recover the boat to get credit for completion of the course. The secret is to keep the boat on its side and not let it turn turtle. If you have a crew, have him swim out and hold the masthead on the water surface while you release the mainsheet and then climb up on the center board. On a catamaran it helps to turn the boat into the wind. Once you have control of the boat at the centerboard, the crew can swim in and roll himself into the leeward side as you put pressure on the center board to bring the boat upright. If you find the centerboard doesn't give you enough leverage, use a halyard to pull on to get the boat started. Make sure the sheets aren't cleated or the boat will try to round up and capsize going the other way. When singlehanding, you must go immediately to the centerboard to keep the boat from turtling. When you feel the boat capsizing, try to climb up to the windward gunwhale asap, holding a sheet in your hand for balance, and crawl out onto the centerboard. You shoul be able to stand on it to get the boat flipping up, then jump back into the cockpit as she rights herself. Remember that the vessel will try to round up and capsize going the other way so make sure the mainsheet is uncleated and watch your head as the boom swings across. That said, I highly recommend you go out on a light air day and practice. It will be difficult to capsize the boat when it's calm so you'll have to lean on the leeward side to get her to go over. Once you practice this a few times your confidence will soar. I used to sail catamarrans a lot and capsizing was a way of life. Here's an example of some righting systems designed for cat sailors. http://www.murrays.com/archive/36-37.pdf Monohulls are much easier to flip back over so you shouldn't need anything like this. http://www.murrays.com/ My final suggestion is to take a few sailing classes, or better yet, hire a private instructor to give you some on the water advice specific to your boat. Have a blast.
All the classes I've had with various small boats from sabots, lasers, lidos, hobie's etc, we had to intentionally capsize and recover the boat to get credit for completion of the course. The secret is to keep the boat on its side and not let it turn turtle. If you have a crew, have him swim out and hold the masthead on the water surface while you release the mainsheet and then climb up on the center board. On a catamaran it helps to turn the boat into the wind. Once you have control of the boat at the centerboard, the crew can swim in and roll himself into the leeward side as you put pressure on the center board to bring the boat upright. If you find the centerboard doesn't give you enough leverage, use a halyard to pull on to get the boat started. Make sure the sheets aren't cleated or the boat will try to round up and capsize going the other way. When singlehanding, you must go immediately to the centerboard to keep the boat from turtling. When you feel the boat capsizing, try to climb up to the windward gunwhale asap, holding a sheet in your hand for balance, and crawl out onto the centerboard. You shoul be able to stand on it to get the boat flipping up, then jump back into the cockpit as she rights herself. Remember that the vessel will try to round up and capsize going the other way so make sure the mainsheet is uncleated and watch your head as the boom swings across. That said, I highly recommend you go out on a light air day and practice. It will be difficult to capsize the boat when it's calm so you'll have to lean on the leeward side to get her to go over. Once you practice this a few times your confidence will soar. I used to sail catamarrans a lot and capsizing was a way of life. Here's an example of some righting systems designed for cat sailors. http://www.murrays.com/archive/36-37.pdf Monohulls are much easier to flip back over so you shouldn't need anything like this. http://www.murrays.com/ My final suggestion is to take a few sailing classes, or better yet, hire a private instructor to give you some on the water advice specific to your boat. Have a blast.
Upper Body Strength
I recently owned an C-14.2, and found that when I capsized (and yes, it can turtle) the centerboard is quite a ways above the water level. So, if you find yourself trying to recover from the water it does take quite a bit of upper body strength to pull yourself up onto the centerboard. Also, make sure you put your weight near the hull on the centerboard lest you break the board. I agree with practicing righting the boat in light wind. It will make it go much smoother when you have to do it during heavier winds.
I recently owned an C-14.2, and found that when I capsized (and yes, it can turtle) the centerboard is quite a ways above the water level. So, if you find yourself trying to recover from the water it does take quite a bit of upper body strength to pull yourself up onto the centerboard. Also, make sure you put your weight near the hull on the centerboard lest you break the board. I agree with practicing righting the boat in light wind. It will make it go much smoother when you have to do it during heavier winds.
thanks
Thanks vv much to both replies. I had taken beginner to advanced lessons at Mystic Seaport where we had to flip & right a J24 using the technique of standing on the CB. The additional comments about uncleating, using the halyard, etc. are much appreciated. Also I didn't know it will turn turtle, and since I always sail alone I am a bit concerned about that. I'm thinking a mast float will at least prevent turtling, and give me a reasonably good chance of getting her righted. V much appreciate the advice.
Thanks vv much to both replies. I had taken beginner to advanced lessons at Mystic Seaport where we had to flip & right a J24 using the technique of standing on the CB. The additional comments about uncleating, using the halyard, etc. are much appreciated. Also I didn't know it will turn turtle, and since I always sail alone I am a bit concerned about that. I'm thinking a mast float will at least prevent turtling, and give me a reasonably good chance of getting her righted. V much appreciate the advice.
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