I was involved in a violent capsizing with an immediate turtle last fall and could not right my H-16. I have sealed the mast and now I am seeking advice on how to capsize the h-16, intentionally so I can practice righting this boat close to land, any and all help is appreciated. I expect to be in a lake environment with 5- 8 knots of wind. Thanks tortoise
Capsizing on purpose in controlled conditions is a great way to familiarize yourself and your crew with what to do to recover. In 5-8 you and your crew should be able to capsize the boat - get to leeward, maybe even stand up and grab the trapeze and lean out.
If you have turned turtle, and you have a sealed mast, you should be able to get the boat back on its side for final righting. What you want to do is walk to the back of one of the hulls, depressing that corner of the boat. That should get the mast somewhat to the side, and it should then be able to rise to the surface.
Get the boat oriented with one side mostly towards the wind. Grab your righting line, and stand on the leeward hull. Walk towards the stern - pull on the line to steady yourself and add a little oomph. The stern on that corner of the boat should depress, and as a result the mast will no longer be pointing straight down. If the mast is sealed it should now be able to rise, putting the boat on its side. Be ready to move back to the center of the hull quickly as this happens - the H-16 bows and sterns have little bouyancy, and you could end up in another unhappy position. Now you should be able to right the boat as normal. Also, before all of this, make sure that your sheets are uncleated and free to run. As the boat comes back upright, move between the hulls and grab ahold of the front crossbeam as the hull comes down to the water. Your weight there can help prevent a new capsize in the other direction, and it's an easier location to reboard the boat. You can also hold on easier if the boat starts to move on it own.
Well i do this occasionaly with new crew and just for practice well if your boat isn't to old the easyest way is just by pulling on your mainand go to leward side(side without the wind) and if it doesn't come over on top of yoy, you lean out on the tapeze wires. You will be amazed that you will almost all the time you wont be hit by the boom.
But if the winds are strong enough to lift the boat out with you on the windward side, pull your main on hard and just let it go over and just jump over the hull be quick unless you want it to turtal. I also do this on a lake and just make sure you aim your hulls towards the wind and dont let the wind hit the tramp unless you like a challenge.Well have fun and just make sure you have every thing you would normaly have when your racing. Have Fun.
From Julian