Old righting technique, anybody know any downsides

I remember from years ago a technique for helping to right a cat that I never see anyone talk about anymore. It is simply lowering the mainsail to reduce the weight at the top of the mast. Where I teach there is predominately light airs, and I've had crews that weigh under 250 lbs that couldn't right a Hobie 16 until I told them to lower the sail.

The question is, does anyone remember any reasons why this is not taught as an option anymore? Other than most of the time it isn't needed.

John C

where do you put the sail once lowered?

I don't have a stock sail, and cannot hoist it solo on the water. Flipped once when reaching to pulland cleat downhaul. Caught a puff and the boat went over. While righting it, the main came unhooked without the downhaul pressure to hold it. Had to have a friend help me. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Fighting a mainsail in bad conditions is no fun, if possible at all. Re hoisting the main on the water in bad conditions is no fun either, if you can.I think the Shroud extender is a good idea that works, because it lets you get the hull weight over-center first, to help that critical phase of getting the mast out the water. I am always surprised to see the shroud extender advertised for boats that do not have captive masts (H16) Surely the mast can pop out the socket in chop?

I've tried to remove the main from a boat that was capsized (6.0NA) in choppy (not waves) water - it was very difficult and took me nearly 10 minutes. After struggling to get the halyard released, I finally cut it at the head of the mast and then swam back to the hull to get the sail down.

The only experience I have with this technique has been for lightweight crew in light air. The boom has been left attached to the boat at the downhaul and mainsheet and the rest of the sail left loose. It is a slow method, it takes time to pull the sail down. I suppose I would try to lash down the sail somehow if it were needed for rougher conditions.

I don't consider this a regular righting method, it is a method to get the boat back up when normal methods aren't getting the job done. At that point sometimes just getting the boat back up and sailing to safety under jib alone is all you're looking to do.
I have raised the main on Hobie 16s and 18s out on the water, it is harder.

I've looked at shroud extenders. We even tested a home built version on one of the 16s. Our rope tie-down to hold the mast in the socket was insufficient to the task. The boat comes up amazingly fast once the mast comes off. We haven't experimented since then. The kit from Hobie includes a tie-down to hold the mast in the socket for the 16s and 18s. I believe it uses wire rope.

John C

1) What you refer to as "lowering" the sail is actually raising the sail when the position of the cat is "capsized." This is a lot of work with a wet, heavy sail.

2) Also, time spent standing in a position that allows you to "lower" the sail is time spent with your body weight on the wrong side of the capsized cat's fulcrum. While keeping your weight on the wrong side of the fulcrum, you are at increased risk of going turtle.

3) Trying to get a doused main sail out of the water after righting a capsize might result in a torn sail.

4) Trying to hoist a wet, heavy main sail at sea is a challenging feat.

5) Reattaching a boom to a main sail clew, while on the water is quite difficult for most.

6) There is a possibility that the sailor can become enveloped in the sail and become either smothered or, submerged and drowned.

GARY

I would have to agree with Gary...lowing the mainsail on a capsized cat is not advisable. Perhaps as a last ditch effort...maybe. I can tell you that once I did get the sail lowered in my 6.0, getting it sorted / rolled while it (and I) was in the water was damn near impossible.

I wouldn't try to lower the sail on my H-16 when capsized. There is a "trick" that may help get the boat back up. Let the mast point about 45 deg. off the wind, run the jib traveler on the down side all the way out, and pull on the jib sheet ahead of the jamb cleat as you try to right the boat. Wind will get trapped in the jib and help lift the mast. I only had to do this once but it worked. This tip came from an old Hobie Hotline.

Howard

You are right. The H16 is a tough boat to right solo. I'm sure more then a few have been lost to the rocks on days when the wind is blowing on shore.

You are right. The H16 is a tough boat to right solo. I'm sure more then a few have been lost to the rocks on days when the wind is blowing heavy on shore. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />