Capsized? Dont waste time and energy righting the boat the wrong way.
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- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- I hear it a lot. "Im great at capsizing, " if you are then get great at righting your boat as well. If you sail a Topper; Laser; ILCA or similar a capsize doesn't mean the end of a race. Most spills can be cleaned up in well under a minute.
This video looks at how to correctly and quickly right a boat from inversion and a 'deathroll' capsize to windward when sailing downwind.
Dont waste time and energy doing it wrong.
I bought my Laser in the late 1970's, #43646. I raced for a while in North Carolina but later when I moved north, on Lake George, NY. I stopped sailing 10 years ago, age caught up with me.
On the Death Role: Remember the drawing of how sails works? Note the direction of the Vector arrows on the curved sail, they indicate the direction of the sail wants to go. Now look at the videos of the Laser going down wind with their sail 90 degrees to the boat. The bottom of the sail is being pushed by the wind. Now look at the top of the sail. The Twist in the sail is such that the top of sail is now acting like a wing. Imagine the direction of the force vector. it is roughly 90 degrees to the boat, on the opposite side of the boat from the sail. Bingo, Death Roll. Vange the sail to the max, and sheet the sail or sail so the top of sail stalls out and is be pushed by the wind. When in doubt, sheet in.
On capsizing: Learn to step over onto the dagger board. On starboard tack, be prepared to swing your right leg over the side of the boat so the boat rolls under you. DO NOT LET GO OF THE HIKING STICK OR SHEET!!! You are now sitting on the side of the boat, hiking stick in your left hand and sheet in right, right foot on the dagger board. Shift your weight to bring the boat upright, and let it roll under you. Your left foot hooks the hiking strap, you sheet in and go. Swing you right leg in when all is well. If you feel you might capsize, hike with you left leg and move your right to the edge of the boat until you feel safe. Practice and you will find you loose next to no time in the maneuver. In really heavy air on Lake George I'd roll the boat on its side and have me a sit to rest much to the amusement of other boaters.
Thank you! I've been Laser sailing for a few years now and didn't know to keep the boat rolling right round after a 'death roll'. I watched your video on Friday and was able to put it into practice in Sunday's racing. Twice!
The guy behind me actuality commented how quickly I got the boat up.
Thanks for the comment, great to hear it worked for you.
That reminds me of sailing a 12' scow on San Francisco Bay half a century ago (capsizes and all). A few of your lads are managing what I called a dry capsize, where the boat could be reentered directly from standing on the board rather than climbing out of the water after righting the boat. Fun.
I learn something every time I watch your vids. In college we were told to get the nose into the wind. Maybe FJs are different. But just in watching your approach (hull facing the wind) it makes more sense. So much less windage. This way the dinghy will also round up as you sheet in vs having to fall off.
Thanks for the comment. I have heard a lot about bringing the bow into the wind. I believe the aim is to use the wind to blow under the sails to help right the boat, but not capsize it the other way. I have never tried it and never felt the need in my rather extensive capsize experience, but have always been strong enough to climb onto the board. I think probably try righting the boat the quickest way possible to begin with, if it isn't budging try releasing the vang then turn the bow into the wind?
Perhaps I should have had watched this video from about 2014 -2018.
The phrase “Laser Death Roll” still makes me shudder. But on the positive side I can still hear the laughter of my friend who was sailing next to me (returning from a run to the pub in Langstone Harbour) as I went for an early bath. Luckily it was HW so I didn’t stuff the mast in the mud.
I’ve avoided the stress now by having a flybridge cruiser and all I have to worry about is not spilling my beer 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Oh yes and maintenance and upkeep is reassuringly more expensive than just updating the running rigging on a Laser……
I really like to understand WHY a certain way is the right way, but I did not learn that from this video.
A sail that is not under power will flap freely (luff) in the direction opposite the wind. You want to minimize the chance your sail will power up after you’ve righted it, otherwise all manner of chaos might ensue.
When you’re righting the boat, the sail is the last thing to come out of the water, so the goal is to have it come out opposite of the wind to start, so it has no chance of powering up. If your back is to the wind as you're on the centerboard, the sail comes out of the water pointing opposite the wind by default. If the sail points into the wind as it comes up, it will dramatically flip to one side or the other as it crosses through the eye of the wind, exerting all kind of force and making for a very tough recovery.
@@Palundrium Great explanation! That was missing from the video. Thank you!
so all you have to do if litterally swim with your legs to point it into the wind? well into the correct position
Thanks Andy
Great vid. Thank you.
VERY new sailor, and not a racing boat, so: 2 questions,
Are there different responses if you have sailing rigs besides a Marconi rig and
what if you have a lightly attached leeboard or leeboards?
Not that I have plans soon to push the skills envelope, but I’m wanting to be able to do the right thing whenever it might happen.
I’d point the laser into the wind, then right it as shown. No need to hold the sail.