We explore capsize and recovery of a John Welsford designed Saturday Night Special. The biggest lesson comes from the third capsize and it's a big one.
The first sailboat I ever had was a little Snark. It's like a miniature sunfish. I had my life jacket on. I capsize. I righted the boat and the main sheet wrapped around my foot and the boat began sailing pulling me by my legs. Without my life preserver on. I think I would've drowned. Another time I had a small 14 foot sailboat at a dock. I jumped overboard to do something to the hall. I don't remember what it was. When I do remember is my embarrassment on how I found it impossible to climb back on board. The dock and pilings were covered in barnacles and oyster shells. A friend showed up and saved the day.
Like all these boats with unstayed rigs, it does not pay to let the sail go too far forward when going downwind, thats what causes the "death roll capsize".
If you get one person on the down side to lie in next to the centreboard casing the other can haul the boat up by its centreboard, and it should come up with that person on board.
Great video - much respect @3mins 50secs - "the boat is sailing away faster than the crew can swim after it. This would be an extremely dangerous situation' ....true that ( ask me how I know)
Excellent 3rd capsize test. I once picked up two crew aboard a Hobie Cat who became separated from their capsized cat, while the third crew member sail away with the cat on its side and the trampoline as the sail. Not good.
Well that could be deadly in the ocean. What’s the solution? In seakayaking, you sometimes have a lanyard connected to boat so you don’t get separated if you capsize. Not sure if that’s a good idea on a sailing dinghy
The capsized boat sailing away from you is only possible in strong winds with full sail. So, if in places where help is far away reefing early and sailing conservatively will significantly mitigate the risk. I don’t like the lanyard idea due to entanglement risk. I’ve heard people talk about trailing a line but never experimented with it.
