Off the Beach Yacht Handling (Page 2)
Capsize Recovery
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The majority of yachts used for AY Instructional Courses are stable designs, but it probably won't be long before you want to progress to faster, more exciting classes. Capsize is something which some novices worry about unnecessarily, and so Capsize Recovery Drill plays a active part in all dinghy courses.

The Golden Rule is "Stay with the Boat". The following Method of Righting will work in most conditions but, even if you cannot get sailing again, don't be tempted to swim for the shore. The boat's inherent buoyancy will keep you afloat and safe in the water. It's much easier for rescuers to see a capsized boat than a head in the water.

Step 1. Both the crews swim to the stem and the helmsman checks that the rudder is secure and not floating off. The crew finds the end of the mainsheet and gives it to the helmsman who, using it as a lifeline, swims around the outside of the boat to the centerboard. The crew then swims to the inside of the boat to the centerboard case.
Step 2. The crew checks that the centerboard is fully down and the helmsman holds onto it to prevent the boat inverting.
Step 3. The crew finds the top (weather) jib sheet or the righting lines if fitted and throws it over to the helmsman who confirms that he has it.
Step 4. The crew lies in the hull facing forwards and floats above the side-deck, being sure not to hang on (his extra weight won't help the helmsman and indeed might make it impossible for the helmsman to right the boat).
Step 5. The helmsman lies back straight in the water with his feet on the boat's gunwale and hauls on the jib sheet and/or climbs onto the centerboard for extra leverage. Keeping his weight as close to the hull as possible to avoid breaking the board, and hauls on the jib sheet to right the boat with the crew member in it.

Step 6. With the jib backed the boat is hoved-to and the crewman is then able to help the helmsman aboard. In fact, the helmsman with experience, may find that he may be able to get halfway into the boat as it comes upright.

Some boats have the buoyancy distributed in a way that makes them turn completely upside down almost immediately. To counteract this, you should never hang onto the inside of the boat and as you capsize, simply drop into the water and quickly go for the centerboard.

If the boat does invert, the easiest way to get it back onto its side is for the crew to press down on one side of the stern while the helmsman uses his weight and leverage on the centerboard. Then proceed as in steps 1- 6 (See Diagrams)

Righting Off the Beach Yachts
Back to Introduction to Sailing Syllabus

If you are learning in a single-handed yacht, you will probably be briefed about Capsize before you go afloat for the first time by your AY Instructor. Once again, the Golden Rule is ^"Stay with the Boat".

If the boat capsizes to leeward, climb over the edge of the hull and stand on the daggerboard where it emerges from the hull. Hold onto the gunwale, lean back and slowly pull the boat upright

In a windward capsize you might be thrown out before the boat stops. Hold onto the mainsheet and if possible swim to the boat and hang onto the daggerboard. Your weight on the daggerboard may be enough to lift the mast and sail clear of the water, when the wind will take over and flip the boat upright.

If not, climb onto the daggerboard and pull gently on the hull to lift the mast just clear of the water. Hold the boat balanced in that position and let the wind push the whole boat around until the sail is downwind, when you can continue as outlined above.

If the boat inverts, pull the daggerboard as far out as possible. You might be able to right it by standing on the windward gunwale, holding on to the daggerboard and leaning back. Some singlehanders respond better if you kneel on the bow when they flip over onto their sides Modern dinghies will come upright with little water inside or aboard so that you can try to sail on immediately. The self-bailers built into the bottom of the hull of most dinghy's today are used to drain the remaining water as soon as you pick up speed.

Many older dinghies, however, will come up full of water, which must be bailed out. If the water level is above the top of the centerboard case, you will have to work fast or you will be fighting a losing battle. It should be clear that a bailer is an essential part of any capsizable yachts equipment. The worst bailer is the one that floats away from the capsized boat so make sure it is tied on.

To reef a Laser (see photo) or Topper afloat, first sail to a close reach position, free the tack, downhaul or Cunningham, remove the kicking strap, ease the clew outhaul completely and (in the case of a Laser) take the boom off the gooseneck.

Rotate the mast in its step to roll the sail up. With a Laser you can only reef as far as the top batten (unless you've capsized the boat and removed it!); a Topper can be heavily reefed and still remain maneuverable. Having rolled up the sail, replace the boom, tack downhaul, outhaul and kicker and sail away.

The function of the Trapeze (see photo) is simply to enable the crew to exert more of a righting moment on the boat by getting his or their body weight further out. With a few notable exceptions including some multihulls, trapeze boats tend also to be equipped with spinnakers - the two go together

There are Two simple rules for wearing trapeze harnesses:
1. Position the hook near your body's center of gravity (i.e. near the navel) and 2. Secure the harness as tightly as you comfortably can.

When trapezing, the first important principle is that the pull on the trapeze wire will tend to pull you forward and this must be resisted by bracing your forward foot perhaps against the chainplates.

To go out on the wire, first hook on and ensure that your weight is taken on the hook, rather than on the handle. When going out, alwAY lead with your front foot. Swing out over the gunwale and push yourself out with the front foot until you are in the right position.

When coming back in, bend both knees and then take the back foot off the gunwale first to swing back inboard.

Except in marginal conditions, always try to keep your body flat when trapezing. You'll find that the trapeze gear includes either a double hook or a tackle that allows you to adjust the height of the hook.

If it's the former, the principle is that you use the long hook to keep your weight really low down for beating, whilst the short hook will keep you slightly higher and make it easier for you to come in and out more often when reaching. The tackle gives you the ability to adjust the hook height as desired, even when you are out on it.

In marginal conditions, it is far better for the helmsman to adjust his weight frequently to allow the crew to stay out longer on the wire, teamwork is important for smooth trapezing.