Hypothermia is a bitch.
![[Linked Image]](http://jk2clan414.ath.cx/albums/album01/aaf.jpg)
ok, I know its nothing special...
The point I'd like to make.... know how to right your catamaran before you go out on a nearly frozen lake.
(or nearly frozen body of water)
That btw, was my first ever capsize on a cat.
Good reminder. Reminds me of my close encounter of a similar kind. 1975, Hobie 14, Lake Wenatchee, WA Lake temp. was about 38 deg F, glacier run off from Stevens Pass, still snow on the ground in May. Could not right boat after several trys, over half of the fleet was over due to the heavy winds. It took three people to right the boat after getting it to shore, mast was full of water. I passed from the shaking phase into the still and no feeling phase. Pretty scary.
Caleb
OK, many of us have similiar circumstances, both as victum, AND rescuer.
Remember the guy a few years ago, I think it was on Chesapeake Bay on the H16, they found him the next morning on his boat capsized, blue jeans and lifejacket?
We should not let the rush of sailing cloud our minds of what kind of anti-hyopothermia gear some of these excursions really take! Sure, you may be OK-DRY. What if?
I could have probably gotten her back up if my righting lines were a bit longer. I had the very tip of the mast out of the water several times, just couldn't get the wind under the sail. I know in mono's you have to uncleat all the sheets, but when you're trying to power-right, wouldn't it make sense to pull as much of the sail out of the water?
Oh yeah, I highly recommend those "click" goggles. They keep the spray out of the eyes nicely.
I think most people uncleat their mainsheet before righting, for at least a couple reasons:
1. If it is cleated, you are trying to lift all that water that is on the sail, and the water can't easily run off. You can see in your picture how much water is on top of the sail.
2. If it is cleated, and you do get it righted, it is easier for the boat to capsize again on the other side.
On the other hand, if the main is uncleated, you don't want to go to the back of the boat to reboard, because the boat could take off downwind, maybe without you. This happened in one of our seminars a long time ago. The guy and his girlfriend/crew capsized. They righted the boat with the mainsheet released, she got back on and was facing forward getting her jib organized. The skipper went to the back of the boat to climb on over the rear beam. He got partway on and lost his balance and fell off. The boat took off downwind, jibing back and forth wildly. It took many seconds before the crew looked back to, as she said later, "Reprimand him for not controlling the boat better," only to discover that he was not there.
It made a hilarious addition to our video blooper collection, but it wouldn't be so funny if you were the only boat on the water.
This is a compilation of posts involving Sven on the beachcats yahoo group, followed by his obituary. Sobering Stuff!
From: "Sven E Schang" Date: Fri Feb 2, 2001 6:12 amSubject: Re: [beachcats] righting a hobie 16
----- I went sailing yestaurday off the massachusetts coast. Anyway, I havealways sailed 14's and now I have a 16ft. hobie cat. I was flying a hull onthe open ocean when a thought occured to me...If I end up upside down am Igoing to be able to right the larger boat? Since the water is freakingfreezing I only flew the hulls at low levels. Does anybody know if it ispossible to right a 16 with out a righting system?(Can you do it with asingle rope?) Thanks in advance, Sven.
From:
To:
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2001 2:03 PM
Subject: [beachcats] Re: righting a hobie 16
> Buoy Station 44013 - BOSTON 16 NM East of Boston, MA reported
> conditions yesterday at 3 PM (warmest readings) as:
> Air temp - 42.1 deg F
> Water temp - 39 deg F
> Wind speed - 9.7 knots
>
> What were you wearing??? You need to have a righting bag with you,
> you can't chance not being able to self-right. I have to say, Sven,
> you have very, very, very large........
>
> Speed Thrills,
> Phil Danbe - Sandy Hook Bay Catamaran Club, New Jersey, USA
> http://www.fleet250.org/
> H-17 #5885 philipp.danbe@b...
>
From: "Sven E Schang" Date: Fri Feb 2, 2001 12:50 pmSubject: Re: [beachcats] Re: righting a hobie 16
I had a 5/4/3 full wetsuit on. I wasn't even cold. I surf year round, butit's hard to stay warm sailing because of the wind and not being protectedby the ocean. It was incredible. When you go sailing, and it is just youand the ocean....it turns into a religious experience. Sven
From: "Sven E Schang" Date: Mon Feb 5, 2001 8:43 pmSubject: Re: Racing 82 H16
Hi, My name is Sven and I have been sailing Hobie cats since I was 13.I sailed a 14ft until a few months ago when I finally got a 16ft. Anyway, Iam old now.(28) and have decided I want to try racing my new cat. Can Ijust show up and race? I have a 82 which is stock except for a mesh tramp.Is it O.K. that I have the old style mast? Thanks in advance. Sven
From: "Sven E Schang" Date: Tue Feb 13, 2001 5:38 pmSubject: Re: [beachcats] Winter Sailing in MA
Since their are not a lot of sailing stories, because it is winter Ithought I'd let you guys know that it is O.K. to sail in Feb. I started theday off snowboarding at MT. Wachusetts. The sun was out and as I wasripping it up I noticed that it really did not feel that cold out. Nextthing I know I was going over 100 mph to make it home to Scituate,MA to getsome sailing in. I rigged the boat in record time and remembered to put theplugs in for once. After my last trip about two weeks ago you guys weretelling me I should not be sailing alone and stuff like that, you shouldreally try it. To keep the catastrophe down I wear a 5-4-3 wetsuit under myclothes. I surf all winter why should I not sail. As long as I stay withina mile or so my risk is also cut down. In addition, although the lobsterboat guys are dicks and do not respect my right of way they might save me.Anyway, the wind was not great but sailing alone with just the oceanglistening and the sun coming down was epic, and I was never even cold.When I was derigging I found a new "stupid" thing you guys could add to thesurvey. Have any of you forgot to put the pin in when demasting. The mastcrashes down and you look like an idiot. Sven
From: "Sven Eric Schang" Date: Wed Feb 21, 2001 1:14 amSubject: Re: great day sailing in MA
I knew it was going to be a good day when my boat almost flipped overwhen I was rigging it. I am not sure but my tow vehicle(Mazda Miata) mighthave flipped with the boat if I did not jump on the hull so quickly! Iremembered to put my plugs in but forgot to rig the jib right. At first Icould not understand why the boat wanted to pitchpole so badly. I was goingto go in because I figured it was too windy then I saw that I had the claspon backwards.(jib was pulling boat under somehow) I put myself into ironsand climbed out onto the hull to fix my clasp. It might as well been lavaunder me cause the water was so cold. For all of you worrywarts, I hadthick rubber on but it would have really sucked to fall in the soup. AfterI fixed my jib I found out what it is like to skipper a hell cat. It wasvictory at sea conditions. My heart was in my throat for about four hours.The wind was very unpredictable. At points it would just be strong thengust would get me flying high. At one point I thought I was all done. Youknow the point when you are flying a hull and trying to sheet out turn intothe wind etc....and then that moment when the boat seems to stop. This isthe moment you know you have lost the battle. I hit this moment but myguardian angel or a wave or whatever righted me just before all was lost.(Donot try this at home) Anyway, if I flipped I would have been O.K. When Icame back into the harbor my fiance was on the jetty waving to me. I had aperfect day and survived to tell you guys about it. Sven.
From: sven schang Date: Tue Apr 24, 2001 5:54 pmSubject: Wind speed of MA coast?
Hi, I went sailing today and it was like victory atsea! I was catching air off of steep waves. I gotboth hulls out of the water a few times when I wasgoing upwind. When I was going downwind I thought Iwas going to pitchpole as I headed down each wave. Iwas not even on a broad reach. I think if I went withthe wind my boat would have become a plane. I wassailing on adrenalin because it got way too windy. Ihad to take the jib of in irons because it was makingme nervous I was going to pitchpole. I had a lot offun and managed not to go into the frigid ocean. Iwas reading the "high wind" posts and was wonderinghow fast the wind was in Scituate MA. If anyone knowsplease reply.
From: sven schang
Date: Mon Apr 30, 2001 7:38 am
Subject: Cape Cod MA launch spots
Hi guys. I have tomorrow off and want to visit Cape
Cod. (1hr from house) I was wondering if anyone knows
of any good launch spots. I would like to go around
the tip P-town area, welfleet etc. In addition, I
still was wondering if anyone can right a hobie with
just a regular rope by themselves. Any of you studs
able to do it. (I should'nt call you studs when I am
going next to P-town tomorrow) Little phobic...Sven
---------------------------------------
MISSING BOATER FOUND DEAD
Rough seas may have caused a Scituate man's catamaran to capsize off
Provincetown.
By EMILY C. DOOLEY
STAFF WRITER
PROVINCETOWN - Sea conditions and human error are being blamed for the death
of a 29-year-old Scituate man who was last seen heading out for a sail from
Herring Cove Beach Tuesday afternoon.
Garbed in denim jeans, a T-shirt and a life jacket, Sven Schang, parked his
truck and trailer at the beach and left on his 10-foot Hobie Cat catamaran
around 1 p.m.
Around midnight, Provincetown police spotted his truck and trailer and group
of people who had seen Schang take off. They told police Schang said he
would return by 7 p.m. for high tide. His fiancee later confirmed that he
was overdue.
The Coast Guard started searching about 12:30 a.m. yesterday for the missing
boater with a 47-foot rescue boat crew from Station Provincetown and a HH-60
Jayhawk helicopter air crew from Air Station Cape Cod, petty officer Michael
Brown said.
At 2:30 a.m., the Jayhawk crew discovered Schang, unconscious and floating
on top of his capsized catamaran about 2 miles off Race Point. Brown said he
was found lying on the tarp of the catamaran, which sits in the water when
overturned.
Brown attributed the accident to sea conditions and personal error. "A
little wave could have just flipped it over. And he wasn't dressed properly
for the water temperature."
Schang was hoisted into the helicopter and flown to Barnstable Municipal
Airport in Hyannis where a waiting ambulance transported him to Cape Cod
Hospital.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Schang was the second boater to die in two days in Massachusetts, prompting
the Coast Guard to issue a warning to recreational boaters.
Steven Hockey, 18, of Bridgewater was presumed drowned after strong currents
swamped the small motor boat he and his brother, James Burke, 21, were
piloting Monday one-quarter mile off Scituate.
According to the Coast Guard, the average survival time for a 180-pound
person in 45 degree water is one to three hours but exhaustion and
unconsciousness can occur within 30 to 60 minutes.
With that in mind, the Coast Guard recommends all boaters wear life jackets,
bring protective clothing and carry a radio or communication device.
It is also wise to tell someone where you are going and how long you will be
out on the water.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers free boating safety courses. For
information, call 1-800-368-5647.
Copyright © 2001 Cape Cod Times. All rights reserved.
Cape Cod Times home page:
http:/
This Article:
http:/
Sven Eric Schang
2001-05-06
Sven Eric Schang, 28, of Scituate, MA, formerly of Brookfield, died
May 2, 2001 following a sail boat accident off the coast of
Provincetown on Cape Cod, MA.
Mr. Schang was born in Bridgeport CT, a son of Robert Sven Schang and
Claudia Marilyn (McKee) Schang Killackey. He was educated in the
Brookfield, CT school system where he played football, basketball and
excelled in track during his years at Brookfield High School. He
attended the University of Massachusetts and was due to graduate with
a degree in English and Business.
Mr. Schang had been employed at Circuit City in Braintree, MA as a
sales consultant. At the time of his death, he had a contract to
start his own brokerage and financial planning office in his hometown
of Brookfield, CT. He was a veteran of the US Army, having served
with the Airborne Rangers, 42nd Battalion Specialist. His hobbies
included; sailing, surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, skiing,
music, computers/electronics, rebuilding classic cars, running, his
guitar and writing. While living in Scituate, Mr. Schang was a member
of St. Mary of the Nativity Church.
Surviving are his father, Robert Schang and his wife Lisa of
Brookfield; his mother, Claudia Killackey and her husband, Thomas of
Sharon, CT; a brother, Bob Schang of Brookfield; two sisters, Tara
Schang of Brookfield and Heather Schang Sadler of Kent, CT; nieces,
Sara and Leah Sadler and a nephew Shane Eric Sadler; and his beloved
fiancee, whom he was planning on marrying next year, Erin Elizabeth
Amato of Scituate, MA.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Marguerite Church,
Brookfield, Wednesday, May 9, 2001 at 10 AM.
Friends may call the Cornell Funeral Home, 247 White Street, Danbury,
on Tuesday, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Sven Eric Schang
Scholarship Fund, c/o Cornell Funeral Home, 247 White Street,
Danbury, CT 06810.
Having had a lot of experience at righting the H-17, un sheeting the main works best. This will allow the mast to rise above the water, with the sail still rotating down. Be patient as the mast starts to clear the water, the wing dampens the righting motion. Once it comes up, grab the dolphin striker, and hold on until the boat settles down and rotates into the wind. Suggest you try this until you get it down pat. Even in a race, help is not always near by.
Caleb Tarleton
I'm thinking about getting a righting bar similar to what Isotopes have on their front crossbar. At a grand total of 170lbs dripping wet (as you can see) it'll take a bit more meat(leverage) for me to pull that bitch over.
I had a Hobie 17 for 2 years. I flipped it over in high wind a couple times and was easily able to right the boat. In the summer I weigh 160-165lb.
1. I always uncleat the main. It is a water bucket and air pocket.
2. I always point the mast dead into the wind or about 45degrees off of the wind.
3. I carry a 5' loop of 3/16 rope when it is windy. If you can't get your righting line stretched out enough, make a pursik knot with the loop and hook it to your trap harness.
I am sure you know all of this... so I will stop typing now.
Yeah, I figured that I couldn't get it up because of the lack of line length.
Thanks though.
Always can use more advice.