I am not a really experienced sailor, so as I continue to experiment with stronger winds and gustier conditions, I feel the need to know what to expect if the boat does capsize and how I would best handle such an event. I am conservative and careful, but lately there have been a few times where she has heeled past my comfort zone. I would appreciate some wise counsel here from those who know! Thanks for your help! *yks Bob
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trust your boat
Bob, I can appreciate your concern about sailing in heavy wind but luckily the C-22 is a tough little boat and can take a lot of wind/heel before it really gets into trouble. As a relatively new sailor you will FEEL that you are in trouble long before you really are, in all probability. I have had water pouring in over the side rails in a major gust and the boat wasn't anywhere close to capsizing. The best thing to do to be safe is to learn what sails to have up and when to reef in various winds so you develop confidence. It is very important to learn to handle the mainsheet and the jib sheets properly in heavy winds. A novice mistake is to cleat the lines and hang on! That makes it hard to react quickly. If you have the main sheet in your hand and you are hit with a gust you can let out the sheet while heading up into the wind, both of which will decrease heel and danger of knock-down and/or capsize. Remember the old sailors' rule: the time to put in a reef is the first time you start to wonder if you need one. In really heavy weather it is a good idea to make sure the centerboard is locked into place. The best way to learn what the boat can take and to develop confidence at the same time is to take out a "captain" experienced with the same type of boat and let him/her put it through it's paces. You will be amazed what that boat can take!
Bob, I can appreciate your concern about sailing in heavy wind but luckily the C-22 is a tough little boat and can take a lot of wind/heel before it really gets into trouble. As a relatively new sailor you will FEEL that you are in trouble long before you really are, in all probability. I have had water pouring in over the side rails in a major gust and the boat wasn't anywhere close to capsizing. The best thing to do to be safe is to learn what sails to have up and when to reef in various winds so you develop confidence. It is very important to learn to handle the mainsheet and the jib sheets properly in heavy winds. A novice mistake is to cleat the lines and hang on! That makes it hard to react quickly. If you have the main sheet in your hand and you are hit with a gust you can let out the sheet while heading up into the wind, both of which will decrease heel and danger of knock-down and/or capsize. Remember the old sailors' rule: the time to put in a reef is the first time you start to wonder if you need one. In really heavy weather it is a good idea to make sure the centerboard is locked into place. The best way to learn what the boat can take and to develop confidence at the same time is to take out a "captain" experienced with the same type of boat and let him/her put it through it's paces. You will be amazed what that boat can take!
Not to worry
What year and does she have a swing or wing keel? I can tell you I was once caught in a very bad storm which came out of nowhere, and had both main and full genoa up, and really believe I was well beyond 60 degrees of heel (yes 60 degrees, as into greater than 2/3rd's of the way to mast in the water), but the boat just side slipped and wind dumped out of sails. Now my swing keel was all the way up, which might have helped the side slipping, but if it were down, I'm sure I never would have heeled that much, even with all the wind (estimates were 63+ mph). There are also formulas you can apply to the Catalina 22's information (e.g. sail magazine's web site). The formulas will help you understand things like righting-moment, and I am sure you will discover the boat is VERY stable. Enjoy and be safe. P.S. also check out the International Catalina 22 web-site for additional information via the link below and seriously consider joining.
What year and does she have a swing or wing keel? I can tell you I was once caught in a very bad storm which came out of nowhere, and had both main and full genoa up, and really believe I was well beyond 60 degrees of heel (yes 60 degrees, as into greater than 2/3rd's of the way to mast in the water), but the boat just side slipped and wind dumped out of sails. Now my swing keel was all the way up, which might have helped the side slipping, but if it were down, I'm sure I never would have heeled that much, even with all the wind (estimates were 63+ mph). There are also formulas you can apply to the Catalina 22's information (e.g. sail magazine's web site). The formulas will help you understand things like righting-moment, and I am sure you will discover the boat is VERY stable. Enjoy and be safe. P.S. also check out the International Catalina 22 web-site for additional information via the link below and seriously consider joining.
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Bob
Thanks for the help and encouragement.
Thanks Bill N and Polestar for your help and encouraging words. I first learned to sail on a 16' Invitation, which was regularly side-over and even turtled. I learned the recovery techniques for that type of boat and felt that it would be useful in advance to know what (if anything) I could do should the cat22 suffer from a similar fate.
Thanks Bill N and Polestar for your help and encouraging words. I first learned to sail on a 16' Invitation, which was regularly side-over and even turtled. I learned the recovery techniques for that type of boat and felt that it would be useful in advance to know what (if anything) I could do should the cat22 suffer from a similar fate.
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Bob
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Bob B.
I have had my C22 sails flat in the water and
it isn't fun! I had just bought the boat in 1991 & was getting some instructions from a person who sailed a smaller (Invitation?) boat. The wind was very strong & stringers of foam were blowing off the tops of the whitecaps. We were sailing with the wind, broached & knocked down. All three of us were catapaulted over the life lines. The boat floated higher than I expected & the water was not close to going into the companionway. It was't showing any signs of righting itself so I swam around to the keel & had to reach up & pull on it with all my weight. It was a long reach & a smaller person may not have been able to reach it. Once the sails broke the suction on the water, it came up really quickly. The swing keel was not locked as I do not use the locking bolt. This happened because of our inexperience, ignorance & lack of respect for weather etc. I would not tell any new sailor "not to worry". Be very concerned about heavy weather sailing conditions especially when new to sailing. Another poster mentioned that he was sailing in severe weather with his keel in the "up" position. Please don't do this! Regards, Bob B. 1980 C22 #9102
it isn't fun! I had just bought the boat in 1991 & was getting some instructions from a person who sailed a smaller (Invitation?) boat. The wind was very strong & stringers of foam were blowing off the tops of the whitecaps. We were sailing with the wind, broached & knocked down. All three of us were catapaulted over the life lines. The boat floated higher than I expected & the water was not close to going into the companionway. It was't showing any signs of righting itself so I swam around to the keel & had to reach up & pull on it with all my weight. It was a long reach & a smaller person may not have been able to reach it. Once the sails broke the suction on the water, it came up really quickly. The swing keel was not locked as I do not use the locking bolt. This happened because of our inexperience, ignorance & lack of respect for weather etc. I would not tell any new sailor "not to worry". Be very concerned about heavy weather sailing conditions especially when new to sailing. Another poster mentioned that he was sailing in severe weather with his keel in the "up" position. Please don't do this! Regards, Bob B. 1980 C22 #9102
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Bob
Thanks Bob B
Thanks for sharing your experience. I wondered if first, it would take on water, and second, if applying a counter force on the keel would be enough to break the surface forces on the sails and mast in the water. You have answered both questions for me...at least for the situation you described. It sounds like the boat was keel to wind. Do you feel it would have made a difference if the waves were breaking into the cockpit? (although I can't readily think of a situation in which the boat would go over into the wind)
Thanks for sharing your experience. I wondered if first, it would take on water, and second, if applying a counter force on the keel would be enough to break the surface forces on the sails and mast in the water. You have answered both questions for me...at least for the situation you described. It sounds like the boat was keel to wind. Do you feel it would have made a difference if the waves were breaking into the cockpit? (although I can't readily think of a situation in which the boat would go over into the wind)
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