MONOHULL Capsize recovery technique
The mainsheet should be uncleated and make sure that it will
run freely when the boat is righted.
The gnav/kicker should be eased to de-power the top
of the mainsail.
If the craft inverts it should be pulled onto its side so that
the rig is horizontal to the water. It sometimes helps to pull
it up with the aid of the wind blowing over the deck and rig.
If your craft has an asymmetric spinnaker and it was up when
the craft capsized, it should be lowered into the chute by a
member of the crew.
There are two basic situations to recover from:
- When the rig is lying in the water, pointing downwind.
- When the rig is lying in the water, pointing upwind.
RIG POINTING DOWNWIND (MONOHULL)
Climb onto the daggerboard and pull the boat slowly upright
using the righting lines, or asymmetric sheet if applicable.
As the craft gets to 45 degrees one of the crew should climb on.
As the boat continues to right take the tiller so that as
the boat returns to its normal orientation you are in control
of the boat as soon as possible. Once you are in control,
you can sort yourself out, tidy the craft and get sailing again.
RIG POINTING UPWIND (MONOHULL)
This is quite often the position the boat ends up in.
Climb onto the daggerboard/ centreboard. As you begin to right
the boat, the wind will blow under the mainsail and help you
right it. Depending on the wind strength the boat will right at
different rates. If the wind is strong the faster you will have to
move. As the mast leaves the water, one of you should climb
aboard and get to the windward side to prevent the boat
capsizing again. Should the boat capsize again to the other side,
simply climb over on to the daggerboard and follow
the procedure for the rig pointing downwind.
In case of difficulty, always remain with your boat. Never be
tempted to leave your boat to go to the shore. Wait for rescue.
An inverted hull is a relatively stable place to wait if necessary.
REBOARDING/MAN OVERBOARD RECOVERY (MONOHULL)
Deck and bow handles, righting lines or the shrouds, as avail-
able, can be used to assist recovery of a man overboard
or reboarding. The transom are open allowing easy reboarding.
It is advisable to reboard the boat from the windward side
when climbing aboard via the gunwale.
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CATAMARAN Capsize recovery technique
The mainsheet traveller and downhaul should be uncleated and
make sure that it will run freely when the catamaran is righted.
Ensure that the tiller extension is facing outward over the back
of the catamaran. If your catamaran has an asymmetric
spinnaker and it was up when the craft capsized, it should be
lowered into the chute by a member of the crew.
There are two basic situations to recover from when the rig is
lying in the water:
RIG POINTING DOWNWIND (CATAMARAN)
Climb onto the lower hull and move to one end to turn the
catamaran so the mast is facing upwind and pull the catamaran
slowly upright using the righting line (stored in the pocket on
the trampoline and secured to the mast base) thrown over the
top hull. As the craft rights the wind on the trampoline and
under the sail will help to right the catamaran. One of the crew
should hold the handle on the underside of the trampoline on
the windward side to stop the catamaran re capsizing while the
other crew member holds the handle on the downwind side.
You can then climb over the front beam of the catamaran onto
the trampoline to ensure that the craft does not sail away minus
the crew. Only if conditions allow should you climb over the rear
beam and under the steering bar. Then take the tiller so that
you are in control of the craft as soon as possible. Once you are
in control, you can sort yourself out, tidy the craft and get
sailing again.
RIG POINTING UPWIND (CATAMARAN)
Climb onto the lower hull and move to one end to turn the
catamaran so the mast is facing up wind pull the catamaran
slowly upright using the righting line (stored in the pocket on
the trampoline and secured to the mast base, thrown over the
top hull ). As the craft rights the wind on the trampoline and
under the sail will help to right the catamaran. One of the crew
should hold the handle on the underside of the trampoline or
the front cross beam on the windward side to stop the catama-
ran re capsizing, while the other crew member holds the handle
on the downwind side. You can then climb over the front beam
of the catamaran onto the trampoline to ensure that the craft
does not sail away minus the crew. Only if conditions allow
should you climb over the rear beam, under the steering bar.
In case of difficulty, always remain with your craft. Never be
tempted to leave your craft to go to the shore. Wait for rescue.
An inverted hull is a relatively stable place to wait if necessary.
REBOARDING/MAN OVERBOARD RECOVERY (CATAMARAN)
The catamarans are equipped with a righting line. This, or the
shrouds, can be used to assist in reboarding the catamaran.
One of the crew should reboard over the front beam
of the catamaran (as opposed to the back of the catamaran)
onto the trampoline to ensure that the craft cannot sail away
minus the crew. (Only climb over the rear beam if conditions
allow). The remaining crew can be recovered via the rear of the
craft or from the side with the aid of the shrouds.
6
CAPSIZE RECOVERY
The Topaz range of craft are particularly stable, but a capsize is always a possibility, even when used with care in light conditions. It is
therefore essential that you should familiarise yourself and practice capsize recovery when you first sail the boat, ideally this should be
in an area where there is some kind of safety patrol to assist should you get into difficulty.
It is safety critical to ensure that the crew is competent to be able to right the craft which is rated for Category C conditions.
The Minimum Crew Weight required for righting each craft type is detailed in TABLE 1 on page 9.
