Joined capsize club today!.... sort of

Took my 70 year old mother-in-law sailing today. After a few hours the wind started picking up a bit(15-20), so I took her back to the ramp. I couldn't bring myself to call it a day with all that wind out there, so dropped her off and headed back out for some real fun. I was flying down this little used channel(2 feet deep?) alongside the ICW and got the bright idea to pull out the camera from it's waterproof box(also containing cellphone multitool, Drivers License and a little cash) and shoot some video of the experience. All was going great for about a minute; the wind was stout, the water flat, and the boat just screaming along next to a beautiful wooded shore. Then I came from behind a small, wind blocking island. The extra wind instantly lifted a hull, but with a camera in one hand, and kicked up rudders from the shallowness of the area, I couldn't quickly turn upwind or sheet out. Over it went! The more it heeled, the more I climbed, until I was sitting eight feet in the air on the side of the dry hull. I climbed down to retrieve my license and the cash from the water. The boat drifted away surprisingly quickly toward the wooded shoreline only 100ft away. As the water was shallow I walked after it, uncleated the sails, lifted the end of the mast out of the water, pulled the rig away from the shore a tad, and let the wind finish righting the boat. A few organizing moments later I got her sailing again.... minus a cellphone and the multitool. Lessons learned? On windy days, not having a hand on the sheet can be a bad idea! When the wind threatens, the "head into the wind quickly" option is not always an option; as when rudders are not very effective. And lastly, my mast leaks! BTW, camera lived to shoot another day! H76 Mims, FL

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Mims, FL

I capsized today too. It was my first day out on a H16. I and the crew were on what had been the high side of the boat, but when we jibed, the boom came across hard, and suddenly we were all on the low side. As the hull went higher and higher into the air, we climbed higher and higher on the tramp, but to no avail - the boat capsized. The water was deep. So we quickly climbed up onto the lower hull, loosed the sheets, got the bow 45 degrees off the wind, pulled on the righting line, and the boat came right up. We were all pretty happy about that.

I had heard that weight management was crucial on a H16 - now I know what they meant. Lessons learned, when jibing have crew move to the other side of the boat BEFORE the stern crosses thru the wind.

I'd like to see your video. How about posting it on youtube.com?

It's kind of a relief isn't it? For months now I've been wondering what it would be like and how it would turn out. I think if it hadn't been so shallow there I wouldn't have been able to right it due to the leaking mast. So now I have some caulking to do and a righting bag to buy! I posted the video to Youtube under "maximus Hobie capsize". For some reason the camera cut off in the middle of the excitement... probably from the death-grip I put on the camera! Also posted another one from earlier in the day; "Joyce Hobie 16", I believe. Sorry no link...

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Mims, FL

Yes, Post the video on youtube. I would love to watch it as well. Thanks for the great story!

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http://www.GetWetSailing.com It's A Great Day To Sail!

You tube cut off the last second or two of the video... the part where the hull jumps out of the water and I can he heard saying "OH $#%^!".

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Mims, FL

actually I think I heard the "OH S#%^!".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2G6yxvZw9k

I'm in the market for a waterproof camera. What kind do you have? Would you recommend it?

Yes! I believe I heard it as well!

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'88 Nationals Blue
Hobie Alter Signature Model
Sail #11

Hobie Mirage Classic

I had an Olympus Shock and Waterproof camera. I would recommend them to anyone. Freezeproof as well for snowboarding. I sailed with it, skied with it, snorkeled with it, threw it in a pitcher of beer before we drank it.

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~Kyle Gless '77 Hobie 16

I also have an Olympus Stylus 1050 SW waterproof/shockproof camera and love it. It goes camping, sailing, swimming, etc. The picture quality is awesome and the camera is rugged. This is my third, the other two still work great, Olympus Stylus camera. The all metal body can really take a pounding. Below is a link to the site:

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_secti ... oduct=1395

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Eric Hanke
Hobie 16 Owner
http://www.hanke-family.com
[email protected]