Demasting :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

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Demasting

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Kevin219

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 10, 2010

Last visit: Jan 07, 2022

Posts: 356
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 - 10:00 AM

Saturday I was sailing 4 miles off shore on Lake Michigan. When something like this happened...

For those of you not familiar with the great lakes, they are cold and deserted. We had just turned back to shore when there was a bang. We were blowing out to sea fast. Thank God we brought a Cell phone.

Some of us don't have the luxury of sailing with other cats, So I urge all of you to check your anchor pins, bring a phone, and tell someone where you'll be and when you'll expect to be back.

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Nacra 6.0 NA
Ogden Dunes, IN
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matt922

Rank: Mate

Registered: Apr 15, 2011

Last visit: Jul 04, 2019

Posts: 287
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 - 10:49 AM

i think demasting is like an initiation for cat sailing
Kevin219

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 10, 2010

Last visit: Jan 07, 2022

Posts: 356
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 - 11:02 AM

Quotei think demasting is like an initiation for cat sailing

I agree. It's really the worst thing that can happen next to sinking.

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Nacra 6.0 NA
Ogden Dunes, IN
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DamonLinkous

Rank: Administrator

Registered: Jul 19, 2001

Last visit: Oct 31, 2024

Posts: 3445
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 - 11:06 AM

Glad you were prepared with the phone and got home safe. I once saw a beachcat get home after a demasting by jury-rigging a mast from the boom and lines, kind of a crab-claw setup.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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daniel_t

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Aug 17, 2011

Last visit: Jul 31, 2012

Posts: 68
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 - 03:12 PM

I've had this happen to me twice this season!

The first time was on a Hobie 16 when the shackle at the base of the starboard shroud disappeared. Fortunately there was a shroud extender that held so the mast stayed up well enough for us to get back to shore.

The second time was in a Hobie Wave when the port shroud snapped at the base. That time I was upwind of my launch site so I laid the mast athwartship held up the sail by the leech.

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Daniel T.
Taipan F16 - USA 213
Clearwater, FL
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rehmbo

Rank: Mate

Registered: Apr 27, 2011

Last visit: Dec 13, 2022

Posts: 163
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 - 03:32 PM

I think one thing worse than demasting (and right up there with sinking) is to have your boat capsize and then blow away from you. Even with a chase boat and other sailboats around, it can be really tough to spot someone in heavy air/seas.

A lot of the guys I sail with (many of the boats are single-handed F17 and A-Cats) carry VHF not just on the boat, but attached to their life vests. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, having a radio on board might be a USCG requirement.

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Jeff R
'88 H18 "Jolly Mon"
'10 C2 USA1193
NE IN / SE MI
cramsailing.com
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motivated

Rank: Mate

Registered: May 27, 2011

Last visit: Sep 17, 2014

Posts: 145
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 - 05:39 PM

Wow. Glad to hear a happy ending to this story. I recently purchased a floating, Uniden VHF portable marine radio and based upon this story, will be careful to make sure I take it with me. My last trip, I forgot to bring it along and it sat in the car while I was out on the boat. Kinda defeats the purpose.

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Karl, Captain of Stayin' Thirsty
2011 Hobie 16SE
Atlanta, GA
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Beest

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jan 01, 2003

Last visit: Oct 06, 2015

Posts: 81
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 - 06:10 PM

A VHF radio is not required by the US Coast Guard but they do take the time to list it under "recommended items"....and it's the first one on that list. Seems to me if they take the time to do that, it should be strongly considered.

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Bert Scott
Niceville, FL
Nacra F18
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ericweller

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Sep 24, 2009

Last visit: May 17, 2019

Posts: 96
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 - 09:21 PM

I've been holding back on telling my new experience partly because of embarrasment but here goes.....

A couple weeks ago, I was out on the wire when a splice on my trapeze rig failed and I dropped into the water like a stone.
I had the mainsheet and tried to let go of it as quick as possible, but still sheeted in quite a bit. I surfaced in time to watch my wife valantly try to get the windward hull down but it was too late. She sailed away a couple hundred yards and then capsized. Fortunately, the tide was coming in and I was able to swim the 200 yards back to the boat but was EXHAUSTED by the time I got back to her. Too exhausted to right the boat. We could not get our bows into the wind because of the tidal current. Yes, we had our weight forward on the hull but the current must have been negating the effort. There was no way I would have been able to swim the mast around.
Fortunately, we had our VHF radio tied to the boom so I called the Coast Guard for help. We were in a pretty desolate area and figured the radio was not going to reach anyone but fortunately they heard me and sent 2 RBI's out to help us. I had them lift the mast end and the boat popped right up and we got back on.

I learned several things from the experience.
1) Put a radio on each person's vest instead of keeping it on the boat. If my wife had sailed any further away and capsized, there is no way I could have swam back to the boat. Then, I would have been screwed floating in the water with nothing but my whistle.
2) Don't tie "safetly" equipment onto the boat. Fasten it so it can be easily retrieved. I could not untie the GPS to tell the CG my position. The CG had me count to 10 so they could triangulate my position. I actually had to break the dry bag holding my radio because I couldn't untie the stupid knot I tied to hold it to the boom. Which brings me to....
3) Just because a radio is submersible does NOT mean it floats!! I handed the radio to my wife and she dropped it into the water. I thought it would pop to the surface but realized pretty quickly that our radio sunk. Fortunately, it was after the CG had our position.
4) Finally, put signalling devices onto your vest. We capsized late in the afternoon and could easily have had a situation where one of us is floating alone after dark. We had whistles on each vest but that was it.

What was funny was the next day, we headed to West to replace the radio and guys in the store heard the "pon pon" go out on the CG band. Of course, West had many suggestions on what safety gear we needed. Now each vest has a whistle, radio, mirror, knife, light sticks and a flashing LED. I feel like inspector gadget with all these things on my vest but think I'm ready for just about everything.

Now if I could just learn to splice a line so that it doesn't fail!

Edited by ericweller on Sep 19, 2011 - 09:26 PM.
nhanson

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 06, 2008

Last visit: Mar 23, 2016

Posts: 94
Posted: Sep 19, 2011 - 11:13 PM

We have had a number of incidents this year. I'm thinking we need to increase education a bit. Carrying a vhf, a gps, a length of good line, maybe some food and water. The great lakes or any large body of water are no place to get stuck. Also dress appropriately. You might be out there for a while. A fellow sailor just this weekend had his hull open up along the keel. A seven year old perfect h16. I mean go figure. Filled up with water, capsized, could not right the boat without additional help. I have had a mast buckle and a side stay part in years past. You just never know. Think boy scout. Luckily everyone has returned safe this year.

--
nacra inter-18
CNBP
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daniel_t

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Aug 17, 2011

Last visit: Jul 31, 2012

Posts: 68
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 07:57 AM

ericweller

One other thing to learn. Even if the boat is capsized, you can lower the mainsail. Once the main is lowered, the boat is much easier to right.

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Daniel T.
Taipan F16 - USA 213
Clearwater, FL
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robpatt

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 06, 2010

Last visit: Jun 26, 2024

Posts: 281
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 08:06 AM

amen for the cell phone and VHF...

to throw another option in the list w/lights/whistles, etc...

a scuba safety sausage in each life jacket....

in rain and waves and wind it's hard to SEE someone so you can go back and get them...

http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-117/030750/XS-Scuba-Safety-Sausage--SMB.html
nhanson

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jul 06, 2008

Last visit: Mar 23, 2016

Posts: 94
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 10:16 AM

cell phones are worthless if its rough and dry bags leak. Attach a VHF to your vest w/ a lanyard. I'm adding a kayak line/throw bag to the list. We had a MOB type rescue this year where a throw bag would have helped. A skipper on a turtled and mast busted boat would not get in the water so we could pick him up. A throw line would have ensured he stayed close to us. It was SUPER rough. Like 8-10 footers on Lake Michigan.

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nacra inter-18
CNBP
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MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 10:36 AM

QuoteI had the mainsheet and tried to let go of it as quick as possible, but still sheeted in quite a bit.

may be different with crew on board, but i ALWAYS hold on the main.. let it capsize!... the last thing i ever want to see is my cat sailing away from me.

PS great story/lessons in there!
MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 10:41 AM

Kevin219
Quotei think demasting is like an initiation for cat sailing

I agree. It's really the worst thing that can happen next to sinking.

unfortunately, i disagree... boating is my passion, but it has lots of dangers.

I bleed one way or another most weekends (from sailing), this summer i have blown out a calf muscle (running my wheels up the beach) blown out my shoulder, and probably pickled my liver (not really sailings fault)

capsizing sucks, breaking boat parts is even worse.. but getting cuts, bruises, infections, losing fingers, friends, and worse are all possible.

Last week we had 2 old men in a small boat get flipped from a boat wake... one man survived.
We have had people cut by props.. and bleed out
we have had jet skiers with most of their faces missing
i had 2 jet ski's have a mid air collision about 200' in front of me.

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but there are many things worse than a capsize
MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 10:45 AM

QuoteSome of us don't have the luxury of sailing with other cats, So I urge all of you to check your anchor pins, bring a phone, and tell someone where you'll be and when you'll expect to be back.

those pins are know to fail, i demasted in the gulf of Mexico due to one on my h18. thanks goodness my pals saw me (way back) and came back. they towed me to a beach and we rigged a g-cat anchorpin that got me home.

i now still carrry my extra h18 pin

PS those typically fail in the middle, where you can't see the threads... it is recommended you change them out ever 2 years or so...
Kevin219

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 10, 2010

Last visit: Jan 07, 2022

Posts: 356
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 12:22 PM

I agree Andrew, death and such is certainty worse than breaking a $27 bolt, but I guess I was referring more to what can happen to your boat. not the crew.

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Nacra 6.0 NA
Ogden Dunes, IN
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Quarath

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jul 06, 2008

Last visit: Jul 19, 2018

Posts: 986
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 01:28 PM

So what vet do you guys wear to carry all this gear in. I don't sail in the ocean but I still have been wanting to add a knife and such to my vest but it is not really have a place for it. It is hard fro me to find some vest that will fit me. The one I use now only fits because the sides are only adjustable straps but many have a mesh or other materials on the sides that just don't expand enough. I did get a solquist one at the hobie dealer to fit ok and so far it is my fav but I have not bought it yet as it is expensive. Plus I want one or two others that can hold gear as well for my crew/kids.

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Dustin Finlinson • Magna, UT
Member: Utah Sailing Association
1982 Prindle 18
1986 Hobie 17
1982 Prindle 16
1980 Prindle 16(mostly)
1976 Prindle 16(mostly)
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bacho

Rank: Mate

Registered: Jun 17, 2011

Last visit: Sep 24, 2023

Posts: 783
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 05:35 PM

To the OP, off topic but why is your tramp so loose?

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Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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coastrat

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jul 16, 2009

Last visit: Oct 28, 2014

Posts: 1271
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 06:21 PM

funny what people notice in a picture. i noticed the striking resemblence of the sailor to a popsickle!...and that look you get when the mast decides to come and join you. the first time i met matt922, i was loading my boat at the secret spot and there he was with his boat-horizontal mast and that same look on his face...i must have had the same look when i heard that loud "BANG!". a picture is worth a thousand words, i nominate this one for "best demasting photograph", it has it all- the rescue boat, the crippled cat, the frozen/demoralized captain...you should submit this one to life magazines "the beachcats edition"!

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bill harris
hattiesburg, mississippi
prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
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