Capsized solo

Well, I knew the day was coming cause I kept pushing the limit. I finally capsized my H16 while solo. My boat has the Hobie Solo righting kit on it (part # 1263) but until now ( and still) I really haven't figured out how it is supposed to work. I used it the way I think it should be used. Just pulled the pin but I wasn't sure how the small shackle was supposed to be fastened so I left it the way it was (just around the shroud and not through the shroud loop).

Anyways, after a great deal of struggling I finally righted the boat but my adventure wasn't done there. I had read in the Hobie book to put the mast pointing into the wind so the wind would help right it. Sounds simple however my main sheet wrapped itself around the block and as soon as I righted it, it took off like a friggin rocket. I slid to the back while still in the water and worked the rudder from the water to try to point it upwind. I finally got it to slow down. I hopped on and tried to tack so I could hook the shroud in properly again however I couldn't tack because the Main was leaning too far out. So I jibed. Scared the S&^t out of me but I fianlly jibed and fixed the shroud.

Any advise on what I did wrong (or right) would be helpful for next time.

Thanks

Wow! What an adventure!

Try to get the bows more inbto the wind when righting. Be sure the main is sheeted out and as you did... hold on!

I think righting is a little different every time. Hard to do it perfect, but sounds like you have the correct concerns. Take time to be sure everything is ready before you right.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thats a mistake I only made once...
... nothings worse than watching your boat sail away with out you on it.

this guy has it down!
In the movies section there is a guy who pitchpoles rthen rights solo

go here:http://www.myspace.com/rwehuman

I can't decide if I like his technique or his sail better! Too cool.

Well, I capsized again. It was a really stupid reason why I capsized but anyways. Used the Solo righting system again and it worked great. I was up and going in a matter of minutes .

What I did differently last time ... I have no idea .

Doc, Maybe neither. That's not a H16 he's righting.

_________________

Happy Sailing,

David

You know what, Triggs? It seems every righting is different from the last. Sometimes it goes without a hitch, and sometimes the main sheet gets tangled (even when you've carefully uncleated it) so that when the boat is righted she takes off. Sometimes the wind is blowing so hard that you need to grab the dolphin striker or the opposite hull to keep her from blowing over again.

Last week I righted my 18 and the jib sheet was tangled. And while my crew was able to get aboard I was left holding the righting line being dragged behind until he steered her upwind and untangled the sheet.

Ever lost a rudder pin from turtling? Yeah. . . That's why I keep spares in my tramp bag.

I was always told to unhook the main sheet from the boom when righting the boat. Stuff the main sheet into the tramp lace in the tramp and
rehook the main once the boat is up. This seems to keep the boat from taking off, but you have to watch out for the boom when getting back on the boat. It seems to work, but takes a little more time,.
John G.

Well, thinks brings up a question I have had for a while and never really thought to ask....

The blocks/sheeting on my main is attached via your standard d-shackle. I have lost so many of these I should have bought stock in the manufacture. One second I'm treading water trying to attach/detangle/detach something, the next I'm franticly trying to grab the shackle as I watch it sink 40 feet down.

I've stuck with this hardware simply because of the strength and small size. For instance if I were to switch to clips, it is literally going to add an 1" to 2" between the blocks and traveler or boom. Cleated in, my boom blocks and traveler blocks nearly touch as it is.

Anyway, the idea of undoing a threaded d-shackle quickly in order to begin righting the boat...

What do you all use? Or is just uncleating the main sheet enough to let the water run off the main?

I use a quick pin in the bottom and a snap shackle on the top. I probably didn't even add an 1" to the total length, since the D type shackle is part of the rig. I do have low profile blocks to start with so an inch is not that big of a deal.