Whats you're most severe heel angle or knockdown

justsomeguy · Apr 14, 2016

"Heel".

It's what you're comfortable with.
If you're locked down, technically, you should self-right.

Be ready to loose the sheets!

centerline · Apr 14, 2016

absolutely have.... mast head was underwater, the cockpit scooped itself half full of water.... the top of the settees were awash when the boat righted itself.

I called it a broach.... I was sailing on detriot lake (very steep mountainous country) during stormy weather and I was sailing downwind, the wind was coming over my port quarter, and suddenly, what can only described as a williwaw hit me from behind and slammed me flat..... it was surprising, it was scary, and it was wet....
the sudden surge/speed forward, the fear of a gybe and the inexperience on sailing down wind in extreme weather all contributed to my reaction, but there was no way to let out the main to dump some wind, and there was no way to turn up and luff.... it was a boat wreck, but without damage to anything except my nerves.... we decided it was time to trailer it home.

willsnow · Apr 14, 2016

Like Centerline: on an alpine lake in Utah. Not like Centerline: Gusty day, 3 of us went out for a night aboard to play some poker. Big one hit, I let out the main - but one friend was leaning against the forward bulkhead... she got the full force of the mainsheet pressing her to the bulkhead while the boat rounded up. Couldn't tell you how much heel (definitely no time to look at gauge) but the boom touched the water. Unfortunately that was her first and last (so far) time on a sailboat. We also decided to turn our tails and head for the trailer and play cards at home.
That was my first summer with the boat... Looking back: should've reefed before leaving the dock and kept sailing. The wind almost always dies in the evening up there.

Piotr · Apr 15, 2016

Never more than 35 degrees. I tried though - I carried 180 % genoa in 13 knots, and nothing, although the boat was overpowered judging by overall shaking and humming...

Jackdaw · Apr 15, 2016

To REALLY get wiped-out you need a spinnaker.

walt · Apr 15, 2016

At the end of one our Lake Powell trips, my two sons were sailing the boat, I was hanging out in the cockpit and my wife was below. A T storm came through while we were sailing and a combination of the canyons and T storm winds created a monster gust and wind shift. The sailboat got knocked over, I think at least parts of the sail were in the water, we rounded up and boat popped back upright. I have never had any water come into the cockpit including this time but it sure scared all of us.

The main thing I remember about this was hearing the ice chest fly from its spot and crash in the cabin. I was expecting an evil tongue lashing from my wife over this but I never heard a thing.. she just cleaned it up. I figure she must have seen her sweet boys running the boat (rather than me..) so it must be OK. I was impressed that she never complained about this at all and there must have been a real mess in the cabin.

tgrady · Apr 15, 2016

Soar 2010 (Squamish Open Annual Race). Every one that was flying a chute in the last mile either broached or shattered the chute. One persons comment after taking a picture of 12.5 knots on the knot meter just before to sail blew "Best $10, 000 dollar I ever spent". Me? I got dunked while holding on to what was the weather shroud before the "jib".

weinie · Apr 15, 2016

Jackdaw said:
To REALLY get wiped-out you need a spinnaker.

+1

BudGates · Apr 15, 2016

I doubt my Mac has seen more than 30 degrees but if you count smaller boats I've had Hobi Cats with the mast at the water and completely turtled Lasers, Sunfish, and 49ers more than once. One gusty day I was taking my son out on a Sunfish for his first ever sail. A gust knocked us down and I ended up under the boat with my foot wrapped up in the mainsheet as it turtled. After I managed to get myself free we leaned on the dagger board and righted the boat and continued sailing. Shortly after that I realized that I was still wearing both my hat and sunglasses. They stayed on through the whole thing. Indiana Jones would have been proud.

Benny17441 · Apr 15, 2016

Wind alone can rarely knockdown a boat. It usually takes the assistance of some ill timed wave to multiply the rolling forces of the wind. It will happen fast.

Jackdaw · Apr 15, 2016

Benny17441 said:
Wind alone can rarely knockdown a boat. It usually takes the assistance of some ill timed wave to multiply the rolling forces of the wind. It will happen fast.

You need waves to capsize for sure, but enough wind can knock you flat. I've been spreaders in the water under bare poles before.

Jackdaw · Apr 15, 2016

tgrady said:
Soar 2010 (Squamish Open Annual Race). Every one that was flying a chute in the last mile either broached or shattered the chute. One persons comment after taking a picture of 12.5 knots on the knot meter just before to sail blew "Best $10, 000 dollar I ever spent". Me? I got dunked while holding on to what was the weather shroud before the "jib".

LOL I had friends who did that race. One of the most EPIC finishes ever. Happily someone was there to capture the carnage and wipeouts.

pateco · Apr 15, 2016

This boat had such a tall mast, we never wet the spreaders, but jib and main in the water was common. 65' boat with 15' Hydraulic centerboard. If you were going downwind on spinnaker with the centerboard up to only 3'-4' in the water, a bad wind shift could really tip the boat. Helmsman needed to be on the ball at all times, and lower the centerboard fully for jibes.

Jackdaw · Apr 15, 2016

pateco said:
This boat had such a tall mast, we never wet the spreaders, but jib and main in the water was common.

??? No matter how tall the mast, getting the spreaders wet takes the same angle of heel.

walt · Apr 15, 2016

That video makes me want to get a spinnaker and fly it in really high winds - just so we dont get too bored and need a nap..

Holly fricken Cow..

pateco · Apr 15, 2016

Jackdaw said:
??? No matter how tall the mast, getting the spreaders wet takes the same angle of heel.

Spreaders and chain plates were well inboard of the rail. Dunking spreaders would have require over 90° of heal, and would have most likely turtled the boat.

BudGates · Apr 15, 2016

walt said:
That video makes me want to get a spinnaker and fly it in really high winds - just so we dont get too bored and need a nap..

Holly fricken Cow..

I'd only fly a spinnaker in those winds on someone else's boat.

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing it.

Jackdaw · Apr 15, 2016

pateco said:
Spreaders and chain plates were well inboard of the rail. Dunking spreaders would have require over 90° of heal, and would have most likely turtled the boat.

My point was that that angle is the same for any boat of that rig configuration regardless of mast height. You appear to disagree.

And most ocean/racing boats have a Angle of Vanishing Stability (AVS) of more than 120 degrees. Getting your mast level with the water is only a risk if you have downflooding occuring.

pateco · Apr 15, 2016

Jackdaw said:
My point was that that angle is the same for any boat of that rig configuration regardless of mast height. Do appear to disagree.

And most ocean/racing boats have a Angle of Vanishing Stability (AVS) of more than 120 degrees. Getting your mast level with the water is only a risk if you have downflooding occuring.

Agreed, As it was a smooth bottom centerboard boat I am not sure how high the CG was. or the AVS. We never pushed our luck that hard. This was a race boat with a crew of 20, sail changes were done for minor changes in wind conditions. I sailed on her only on the Chesapeake Bay for a year, so I never got to see how large wave conditions affected her stability. She did Newport Bermuda race the summer after I left, but I didn't get any updates from my prior crewmembers.

I need to show that diagram you posted to my wife though, so that she doesn't freak out so much when our current boat starts to get happy.