10 replies to this topic

[curtisfromcarlsbad]

I have a 1981 Snipe sailing dinghy that I bought a year ago. I really like it. It is easy to trailer and can be easily moved about by hand for parking the trailer /docking etc. I have not capsized it yet but also have not yet sailed it with the jib, only have used the main. I have read on some forums that singlehanders on this boat type have turtled after a capsize and have been unable to get back in the boat after righting or were unable to right it without help. I weigh 208 and am in pretty good shape for 43. I have not yet practiced capsizing the boat and righting it yet like I should have. I will probably be able to do this in a month or two in a protected bay. I sailed the Snipe in 13mph winds with 17mph gusts on Big Bear lake this last Sunday and didn't have any near capsizes. I have great interest in purchasing a Secumar auto inflate masthead float to make it more likely I will be able to right the boat by myself. Also many dinghy sailors over the years have broken their masts while turtling in shallow waters. The feeling that I have gotten from reading the forums is that it is unsafe to use a masthead float in deep water because the boat can rapidly drift away from you with the wind before you can get to it after a capsize. I also read about a person that connected his mainsheet to his harness with a snapshackle to prevent the boat from getting away from him when using the masthead float. Would this work for me? I could carry a knife in a sheath on the front of my life jacket in case of entanglement. I want to singlehand the boat along the coast in Southern California maybe a 1/4 mile offshore near where I live. I plan on practicing the capsize drills in varying water depths at Mission Bay in about a month and then purchase the float after I get a feel for how the boat rights with me. Also my hull # is : 19276 . Which company made this boat ? Here is the website for the float and some pics to identify the manufacturer of the boat. Thanks !http://www.sailboats...SK40~c4875.html

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[DRIFTW00D]

That one has a lot of flotation. They are not hard to right even turtled with the board handing below it.

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#1 tie the board to the boat securely when sailing. If it turtles it will go to bottom fast.

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#2 Never let non sailors drive. Dont ask WHY.

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#3 Get a good bailing bucket.

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#4 Dont let it happen.

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#5 wear a PDF

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#6Now Just

[William of Bones]

That one has a lot of flotation. They are not hard to right even turtled with the board handing below it.

.

#1 tie the board to the boat securely when sailing. If it turtles it will go to bottom fast.

.

#2 Never let non sailors drive. Dont ask WHY.

.

#3 Get a good bailing bucket.

.

#4 Dont let it happen.

.

#5 wear a PDF

.

#6Now Just

Driftwood is right

secure the board

do not let non sailors drive
or hang on to main sheet
they will take you for a swim
( know this from personal experience )


#7 don't solo sail in cold water

in warm water with help near by

do a test capsize

can you get the boat back up

can you get in the boat

is the cb trunk above water

can you bail fast

i use a 5 gal pickle bucket

solo sail Thistle

capsize

for me hard part is getting back in the boat

mac

[curtisfromcarlsbad]

Thanks. Is it OK to tie off to the main ? This would be if I was using the masthead float and not in protected waters but still quick swim to land (1/4 mile.

[curtisfromcarlsbad]

Thanks Driftwood. You nailed me with this song last time when I rigged the Snipe as a trimaran ! LOL !

That one has a lot of flotation. They are not hard to right even turtled with the board handing below it.

.

#1 tie the board to the boat securely when sailing. If it turtles it will go to bottom fast.

.

#2 Never let non sailors drive. Dont ask WHY.

.

#3 Get a good bailing bucket.

.

#4 Dont let it happen.

.

#5 wear a PDF

.

#6Now Just

[DRIFTW00D]

Thanks. Is it OK to tie off to the main ? This would be if I was using the masthead float and not in protected waters but still quick swim to land (1/4 mile.

NO one hand on de main one on de tiller. Stay with the boat its bigger than you head in the millions of gallons your floating on and u want to live right?

[curtisfromcarlsbad]

No. I would still have one hand on the main and the other on the tiller but I would have the main secured to my waist ethier by a knot or attached to a harness with a snap shackle. This would probably make it easier to right the boat but without the risk of it blowing away from me due to the masthead float . Any flawed thinking here ?

Thanks. Is it OK to tie off to the main ? This would be if I was using the masthead float and not in protected waters but still quick swim to land (1/4 mile.

NO one hand on de main one on de tiller. Stay with the boat its bigger than you head in the millions of gallons your floating on and u want to live right?

[Steam Flyer]

No. I would still have one hand on the main and the other on the tiller but I would have the main secured to my waist ethier by a knot or attached to a harness with a snap shackle. This would probably make it easier to right the boat but without the risk of it blowing away from me due to the masthead float . Any flawed thinking here ?

The biggest problem I can see is that the mainsheet is always going to be tangled, thus distracting you at best and causing a capsize more often than otherwise.

I would sail without attaching yourslf to the boat; just remember to hang on.

You might consider setting up "righting lines" under the gun'l. This will make it easier & quicker to right and also give you something to grab any time you're getting seperated.

FB- Doug

[Fishingmickey]

Curtis, I would not tie the main sheet to your body in anyway, shape or form. The possibility of getting wrapped up in it and not being able to get free is my reasoning. Wear your PFD at all times, make sure you are dressed for the conditions and always stay with the boat if you capsize. Find another single handed sailing buddy and go out together. If ya do manage to get into trouble at least someone will be have your back.
Regards,
FM

[curtisfromcarlsbad]

ok thanks

[skiffsailor_aus]

Don't tie off your mainsheet - simple as that. I remember rescuing a single-hander a few years ago who had capsized - he had cleated his mainsheet & then threaded it through the centrecase so that he could hang onto it whilst he was on the centreboard. But then he couldn't (or wouldn't??) release it when we attempted to walk the mast up from the rescue boat, so needless to say that wasn't too successful. We could not right the boat until the mainsheet was completely freed.

Plus there is the obvious risk of getting tangled in it, either whilst sailing or while in the water.

If you do need to get rescued, you want to make it as easy as possible for your boat to be righted. Having the mainsheet cleated or secured to yourself or something else does not make it easy.