Welcome

I turtled my mozzie a few weeks back for the first time and spent about 20 minutes trying to right it. I am 87Kg but luckily had a friend on board who was another 60Kg. This was the first time I had turtled a cat and didn't really know what to do. Luckily I had a fellow very experienced mozzie alongside shouting pointers to me. She came up eventually by using the standard righting procedure but it took time and lots of effort. I will run through what I did wrong.

1. I didn't release the downhaul, only the mainsheet and jib. Apparently you must release the downhaul as well as the mainsheet, jib etc. I know I had to release the manisheet and jib but didn't think about the downhaul. As soon as we did release it, it made things alot easier.

2. I tried to right it from the front beam position like normal. Again you are apparently supposed to have the righting rope attached to the front beam as usual but go back to the very rear of the opposite (leeward) hull. This lifts the windward bow out of the water and starts the righting process as the wind starts to push under the tramp and begins to push you downwind which causes the sail to literally sail itself up under water. As she comes up you can then get to the normal righting position and swing it into the wind for a normal righting procedure.

When I first turtled my mozzie I just sat on the hull and thought "$#%@, now what". I thought I was screwed but I had to try. The way I was trying to right it (normal way) if I had not had the extra 60Kg of my friend available and not knowing the technique (described) I don't think I would have been able to do it. Also, be very aware of where you are applying your weight, I heard the hull under me starting to split so I jumped off, no damage thank god...

According to a source on the net, righting a turtled cat is 95% technique. After my next race, be it a nice calm day I am going to sail over to our rescue boat and tip her over and practice. I also found a lot of extra holes in my mast which I have since sealed. I just left a pin hole at the base to avoid corrosion. Also if enough water gets into your mast you are stuffed. You will need to tow it out with a rescue boat and if you don't have one around you have a long swim.

Seriously, this points out the dangers of sailing alone off shore in an offshore breeze. I make it a point not to go out alone. Had I been alone, no friend (extra ballast) and no second (experienced mozzie) I would have seriously been up a creek without a paddle and would have had a 1km swim to shore and no boat. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Very dangerous...

Hope this helps.

Cheers

PS (The technique described is what I found on the net and have not yet tried it).