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damage control

Posted By: fin.

damage control - 11/22/06 12:13 PM

I bent my boom and tore my main during a capasize under spinnaker.

It seems this happens a lot, especially to those of us that are newer to the boat. To try and prevent the damage (not the capsize), I'm thinking of adding a "Geronimo!" line. A piece of springy dock line, tied on TOP of the tramp, between the front and rear cross bars. One along side each hull. A loop, knot, or handle of some sort will need to be added to improve my grip.

The idea is to slow and control my fall when the boat goes over. As, for the foreseeable future, I'll be going over a lot!
Posted By: bobcat

Re: damage control - 11/23/06 02:41 AM

If you've got time to use the geronimo line, don't you have time to plan your departure gracefully? As in intentionally landing in the space between the tramp and the boom? I thought that it was the flying trapeze tricks that lands one in the sails.
As was recently noted, many of us are on the busy end of the learning curve. All my capsizes have been downwind, yet not of the violent catapult launch variety. The bow design is an improvement but not a cure-all. The bows still dive but the boat doesn't do the quick somersault. So I have been left dangling holding onto the rear beam until things go past vertical. The boat is now oriented so that when I let go I am headed for the mast. Not much of a gap there so perhaps I see where you are going.
Posted By: Jalani

Re: damage control - 11/23/06 08:21 AM

Sounds to me like you guys on t'other side of t' pond are capsizing too slowly!!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

At least when I capsize I end up somewhere near the hounds....

[Linked Image]

Attached picture 91203-F_16_Datchet_training_UK_.gif
Posted By: fin.

Re: damage control - 11/23/06 12:14 PM

Quote
If you've got time to use the geronimo line, don't you have time to plan your departure gracefully? As in intentionally landing in the space between the tramp and the boom? I thought that it was the flying trapeze tricks that lands one in the sails.
As was recently noted, many of us are on the busy end of the learning curve. All my capsizes have been downwind, yet not of the violent catapult launch variety. The bow design is an improvement but not a cure-all. The bows still dive but the boat doesn't do the quick somersault. So I have been left dangling holding onto the rear beam until things go past vertical. The boat is now oriented so that when I let go I am headed for the mast. Not much of a gap there so perhaps I see where you are going.


In this specific instance, it did happen very slowly, giving me time to climb out over the stern! Bad move! I almost prevented the capsize. . . almost! The forward motion stopped all together, but I lost my grip when I went past verticle. I think my weight forced the bows further in than normal. In any case I fell backward into the main, stiking the luff at the mast, causing the damage (see attached). Had I been able to slow my fall, there may not have been any damage at all. I probably would have landed feet first, rather than on my head and shoulders,( go ahead and laugh, it must have looked hilarious <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ) and been able to pick my spot.

In future, I have no intention of trying to stop the capsize. Once the sterns start to lift, I'm just gonna be along for the ride.

The long-term goal is to get control of the boat and have no capsize at all! Or only rarely!

While I'm at it, how do you guys execute a jibe under spinnaker? In this latest debacle, I picked a calm moment, absent any of the larger waves. Put the helm over to a dead down wind position, let go the spin sheet, and started to move the tiller around the blocks. At this point the boat was moving slowly, I heard the spin flog and the sterns immediately lifted. Then the chaos.
Posted By: fin.

Re: damage control - 11/23/06 02:28 PM

Just reread the spinnaker section from "Catamaran Sailing for the 90's". It answered a lot of questions.

It was written by Randy Smyth. It is short, clear and succinct. Kudos to Randy on his writting style.
Posted By: pdwarren

Re: damage control - 11/23/06 02:46 PM

Don't wait for a calm moment. The best time to gybe is on the end of a gust, so you've got maximum boat speed and minimum wind.

Otherwise, for a strong wind gybe: traveller should be centered, when you gybe, get your weight over to the far side, and be careful not to steer too far through the wind (having the mainsail sheeted and centered will help here).

I'm surprised that the bows are going under during a gybe. The usual way that I go over in a strong-wind gybe is by steering to far and finding myself too close to the wind on the new tack with no boat speed to bear off with.

Don't worry too much about the kite: as long as you're pointing close to dead downwind it shouldn't be doing any harm. Ideally you want to gybe straight from filled one way to filled the other but...

Paul
Posted By: fin.

Re: damage control - 11/23/06 02:54 PM

Quote
. . .I'm surprised that the bows are going under during a gybe. ...

Paul


I can't figure it out! It should have been uneventful.
Posted By: Robi

Re: damage control - 11/23/06 05:21 PM

LOL, this was Tiki's first capsize. He has yet to crash and burn. So the comment on you guys on the other side of the pond, really does not apply here. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Tiki has been very conservative. I can only imagine once he starts pushing the boat! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> FUNTIMES! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: fin.

Re: damage control - 11/23/06 05:33 PM

Quote
LOL, this was Tiki's first capsize. He has yet to crash and burn. So the comment on you guys on the other side of the pond, really does not apply here. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Tiki has been very conservative. I can only imagine once he starts pushing the boat! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> FUNTIMES! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


2nd! 'member the 3 of us were over at the same time at Eustis! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Robi

Re: damage control - 11/23/06 06:31 PM

Quote
Quote
LOL, this was Tiki's first capsize. He has yet to crash and burn. So the comment on you guys on the other side of the pond, really does not apply here. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Tiki has been very conservative. I can only imagine once he starts pushing the boat! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> FUNTIMES! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


2nd! 'member the 3 of us were over at the same time at Eustis! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
oh yeah, thats right! I forgot about that one. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: bobcat

Re: damage control - 11/23/06 11:08 PM

Pfft, I don't see you getting anywhere near the hounds.
Posted By: fin.

Re: damage control - 11/24/06 12:05 PM

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />! This is one contest I'm staying out of!
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