In looking for ways to make it easier to right my 1984 Supercat 17, I ran across this from the Habermans.

It seems like a great way to right a beachcat.

Have any of you guys tried this with other cats??

Power Righting

Step #1 is to turn the boat into the wind, bows pointing into the wind. This takes a drag chute deployed off the bow. (This will pull the bows into the wind. Now the mast is perpendicular to the wind.)

Step #2, at this pull the mainsheet in firm, leech relatively straight. and force the main traveler car down to the down hull by pulling it down at first by hand and then stepping on it. (The mainsail will form a large pocket over the water and it will inflate, the mainsail will fill and bulge up toward the sky.)

Step #3, the mainsail is now generating enough lift to right the boat. As the boat rights itself, the person standing on the traveler car steps or rolls forward onto the trampoline.

Step #4 Uncleat the mainsheet and put a few feet of slack into the system and recleat it. (The drag chute is still holding the boat, both bows facing into the wind.)

Step #5, get the rest of the crew aboard and retrieve the drag chute and sail away.

Bill mentioned this is how he rights his SC20 and RC30 and it is simple and easy and takes no brute force.

Any observations from the rest of you guys...I thought it a great technique I will try myself.

(I wonder if it would work on the Stiletto 27...just kidding..!)

Tom

It should work if you have enough wind.... It is certainly worth a few intentional capsizes to experiment.

Generally, when I capsize, I walk out to the bow and sit on the end, this causes the boat to weathervane, meanwhile the crew is hooking up with the righting line and extending the shroud (in lighter air)when the boat is into the wind I walk back and put my weight on the line as well. Up she comes...

Sounds like it will require plenty of wind...can you say Bear Lake squall...

It may come up so fast that it keeps on going, right over the other way, if you are not fast in dumping the mainsheet.

I did right an Inter 20 alone using this method, by mistake. I forgot to unclete the main sheet after a crash. I sat on the bows, the boat turned into the wind, the wind got under the mainsail and lifted it up as I was just starting to pull on the righting line. Then the real fun began, as it tried to sail away with me clinging to the front beam, dragging in the water! I did finally get on board but it was not pretty. Be carefull if you leave the main sheeted in! It will sail away from you. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />