>>>"Just not designed to be a solo platform, for that you need a boat you can consistently right without need for assistance (self reliance).<<<

Then you had better get a Laser or Sunfish, because there are times when you can't right a cat, no matter the cat.

OR...you could use some -common sense- and not go out in conditions that would be difficult or impossible to right your cat, or when there are no other boats around to help you right your cat. And you had better tie yourself to your cat any time you are sailing solo too, unless there are others (cats, mono's, jet ski's, what ever) in the area that can assist you in recovering your cat.

Here's an example, I will be as vague as possible to hopefully not embarass anyone. There was a regatta a few years back. Day one it's blowing stink, 20-25 with gusts to 33 or so.

There was a fleet of Inter 20's there, about 8-10 of them on the beach. The RC cancelled racing but a couple of the I-20's went out to "have some fun". There was a new guy there who had just bought his I-20, he was new to cat sailing in general but had years of racing mono's. His crew had less experience.

Several of us were standing on the shore watching the two boats that went out, they were flying! Litterally at times. They both flipped in the gybes but got right back up and kept going. Awsome stuff to watch!

But these were two of the top Inter 20 teams in the US at the time. The new guy starts to put up his mainsail. Several of us went over and asked if he was going to go out. "Of Course, why not? Those guys went out."

Well a few of us tried to talk him out of it. He wouldn't listen. Then just before he left the beach, he asked, "What should I do to de-power the boat?" So we gave him some tips and he went out.

He made it about 100 yards off shore when the first gust flipped him. The lake is shallow and his mast tip got stuck in the mud. The two of them spent the next 30 minutes trying to right the boat. I was sure the mast would snap because they were doing it all wrong, but to eveyrone's amazement, they eventually got it upright with the mast in one peice.

He then sailed out into the main body of the lake. We were more than a little worried about what would happen to him if he flipped again wayyy away from shore, because there were no rescue boats out there, racing being cancelled of course. And the wind was blowing away from our shore. Talk like, "OK, Who's going to go out and bring him back?" was going around, with no volunteers.

BUT, his main halyard ring had come off the hook and his main was slowly sliding down the mast, which was really a blessing for him as it was being reefed for him!

When he figure out what was going on, he tacked and came back to shore on the jib alone, main half down and flogging. So, in over an hour, he spent maybe 5 minutes sailing and the rest of the time trying to right the boat, with two adult males on board.

Now, there were conditions when some went out, some didn't and some did who shouldn't have. All with the same boats, same conditions, very different skill levels and results.

"A man's got to know his limitations."

Oh, we never saw that guy again. I think he sold the boat shortly after that experience. Too bad he wouldn't listen or take someone else who had more expeirience.


Last edited by Timbo; 03/04/09 09:54 AM.

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