Sounds like you did exactly what you should, Good job.

As Race Commitee you had the right to PROTEST all other competitors for failure to render assistence as perscribed in the International Yacht Racing Rules. This is one of the fundamental rules in the very front of the rules book!!!

ALL BOATS/ SAILORS MUST STOP AND RENDER ASSISTENCE OR CAN BE DISQUALIFICATION FOR FAILURE TO DO SO.

I would have DSQ'd the Whole Stinking Fleet!!!

Harry Murphey
H18mag/#9458, Fleet54/Div11
P19mx w/spin /#86, CRAC

Well, there are tons of things that come to mind after reading just the first post, and more after that...

In terms of what were your options as RC, there are many and I certainly am not going to second guess your decision to run a race. If this were an essay question on a USSA exam, I'd probably answer it like this...

The RC was limited to one power boat. I would have made the fleet aware of this at the skippers meeting, and make a point that we would be "extra generous" with redress for sailors that help one another. Can't force them, but we can try to sweeten the pot.

The boat capsized before the first start. The sailor stayed with the boat. At the time of day for the start, one is faced with a limited amount of daylight to be able to run any races if the starts are delayed.

There are three options at this point:

1. Ask a specific boat in the last class to start to help him NOW.
2. Run the starts while keeping watch on his progress.
3. Postpone and help him yourself immediately, with the high likelihood that there will be no racing.

I would have done #1 and #2 in the situation as described. If the boat that assisted was affected in their race, I would have filed for redress for them. No jury in the world would deny this.

If the requested boat didn't render assistance, and the sailor was separated from the boat or appeared injured, I would go immediately to #3.

Believe it or not, my rationale for #1 come from Boy Scouts about 20+ years ago. If you're in a first aid / CPR situation with a crowd of people, never say "someone call 911." Everyone will stand there looking at each other and assume someone else will do it. The better thing is to point to one person and say "YOU, call 911."

Anyway, that sums up that part.

As for the rescue operations, I think you did exactly the right thing. Drag the capsized boat out of the way of the tanker to avoid damaging two boats (and who knows what else)...

If there is imminent risk of collision, get on the radio to the other boat, Coast Guard, or anyone that will listen to slow them down. As you probably know, it takes some boats a few miles to stop or effectively turn. In limited water, this gets very tricky.

Once out of the way, I agree with Brian, dismast the boat. You can pull a pin or just cut a wire. Either way, get the mast disconnected (tie it to something so it doesn't go to the bottom), and get the sails down and stowed. You should be able to right the boat easily now, then pull the mast (it WILL be heavy) onto the righted boat and tow it all in.

BTW, I totally agree with your lessons learned list.

Mike

How do you right a turtled boat when the mast is off? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

My anchor is a Danforth in a padded bag which clips to my tramp. But I use it to stay off the beach when I go for a coffee or walk etc.
The Tornado guys here when turtle take the line over the hull and across the bottom to the power boat and pull it over sideways. I am told the critical point is when the boat starts to right that the power is lessened quickly.

Well Mary, I never tried this firsthand, but was out overnight once (solo, turtled and dismasted), and as soon as the mast came free, I gave up trying. I've told lots of people that story over the years, and several have told me that it's far EASIER to right a boat from turtle without a mast (less resistance from the sails, etc.).

I would think that the procedure is the same as righting a cat in general, especially with a power boat. With the mast missing, one would tie onto the dolphin striker (yes, this will probably bend it depending how it is tied, but that's a problem to be dealt with after you get the mess back to shore).

And to clarify a few comments about righting with a power boat, the best procedure that I have seen is as follows. Get the capsized boat perpendicular to the wind. Tie one end of the tow line to the mast base / dolphin striker, run it out under the deck of the windward hull (which is under water), run it across the bottom of the turtled boat to the power boat (which is setting up on the downwind side of the capsized boat). On the power boat, run the line around a cleat 1/2 TURN, and have the power boat crew HOLD the tow line, but DON'T TIE OFF. The idea here is, you want the cleat to help the crew hold the line so they aren't pulled overboard, but they need to be able to release it instantly. Have the capsized boat's crew sit or stand on the leeward hull, holding the righting line.

The power boat slowly goes down wind to get the slack out of the line. When the slack is out, everyone needs to brace for action. Apply power directly downwind to pull on the line while the crew is pushing the leeward hull down with their weight. As soon as the boat starts coming over (the windward hull is vertical and coming downwind), the power boat crew releases the tow line, and the capsized boat is now righted.

Obviously, it is essential that the tow line be free of knots, shackles, caribiners, thimbles, etc. so it doesn't get hung up when it needs to be released. If the line isn't released, the boat will re-capsize downwind because you can't relieve the power fast enough with just the engine, especially if the waves aren't working in your favor (been there, done that).

Hope this helps, it sounds more complicated than it really is.

Mike

I am familiar with the procedure when you have a powerboat. I thought a couple of people were talking about the crew themselves righting the boat with the mast disconnected, and I did not know that was possible.

Mary, While I am happy to say I never did it, my thinking is that it would be the same as righting the boat normally, except as Mike said, you wouldn't have the resistance of the sail and mast.

Post deleted by PTP

Those are people that have never tried it. If you get into a turtle situation... keep the mast and sails connected. The platform is very stable without a mast. It is much more stable when upside down.

I have multiple experiences with a turtled platform and no mast. Not a good situation. You need the mast and sails to act like a sea anchor / lever. The hulls drift downwind while the mast and sails drag slower. This causes the boat to roll onto its side. Then you can right it.

Without the drag and lever of the rig... it is very difficult to right. Even with a power boat. Try to flip over the hull platform on dry land. It is not easy to lift. Much, much more difficult in the water as the downside hull slips away from the lifting force. You have to trip it somehow as explained in an earlier post.

By far the easiest assisted righting is done by another boat lifting the mast head while the capsized boats crew rights as normal.

Thank you, Matt. That is exactly what I thought.
I didn't want people thinking it was a good idea to disconnect their mast when their boat is turtled.

All you have to do is put your boat in the water without the mast and try to capsize it, and I can't imagine being able to do that. And, as you said, the boat is even more stable when it is upside down.

G'day Rolph I got a waterproof mobile phone cover from Rick and it works without taking the phone out you can see the number your dialing ( I set a preset to the rescue tower etc ), you can push the buttons and you can clearly hear/be heard through the material.
highly recommended regards

Having been on the rescuer end of things for a long time, I would like to say that pretty much every Harbor Patrol Boat (USCG Boat, station etc.) in the US has a Radio Direction Finder on board that will home in on your VHF's signal. That's a direct connection between the agency that is on the water plucking you out.

With a cell phone, at least here in CA, if you dial 911 you get the Highway patrol, then they call they local authorities, then they call harbor patrol, then they call the USCG.

I think the VHF is much more efficient, therefore a safer option.

This poor fellow was either a moron or somebody told im it would be possible to right a 5.8 solo without assistance! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I can easily right my boat solo but still carry a phone in a see thru plastic pouch in case of catastrophic failure (this does not require removal when in use) in my vest pocket or on a lanyard around my neck with the number of the rescue tower, chase boat etc. pre-programed. Absolutely no reason to Dial 911! I can also call my wife and tell her that I'm safe so she doesn't need to worry (or call out the coast guard for that matter!). <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

In comparison, these days doing a random May Day over the VHF is extremely limited option . <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I carry a handheld ICOM. It works well and has good range.

To be honest, I carry both a radio and cellphone. It never hurts to be over prepared.

I was on a big boat at this Davis Island Thursday night race and saw this blue cat drifting capsized when we were in the last start. The wind was about 8, and he was 1/4 mile downwind from the RC, trying and obviously failing to right himself: the situation with this cat did not appear to be dangerous. No signaling/waving/indication of distress by the skipper was apparent. It appeared that the RC could and would assume the rescue momentarily, if necessary. He did. (I have done this NUMEROUS times as RC, when the chase boat was occupied, missing or broken.) The RC could have requested any one of several racers to assist, including us.

BTW- It is critical that every cat sailor SEALS HIS OR HER MAST with a $5 tube of silicone before sailing or racing. Tell your novice friends, and careless racers, please. We used to have sailing clinics and boat inspection every spring, back in the day.
Skippers Meeting? I don't know if the club has one on Thursday nights. Maybe they should.