My recent capsize

Hi all,

I took my family out on the newish to me getaway last weekend after going a number of times with friends. Wife, and three young girls. My only goal was not to capsize as I was certain it would terrorize the kids and prevent them from ever getting on board again.

Winds got really strong and of course we capsized. Water was really cold and kids were initially panicked. Friendly pontoon boater picked up my family towelled em off and gave them cookies. (My kids now want a pontoon boat

Anyway... I had much more trouble getting the boat righted than I expected. Im 190. Another boater jumped in to help even a little heavier. We failed to upright the boat using the righting line together. Sails were uncleated. I am not certain I got the boat pointed the right way (that was hard and I got lots of conflicting advice from circling boaters). Could it just have been the wind direction issue?

My specific questions:
1. the righting line was verrrrrry loose located in a simple square underneath the tramp. Is that set up right? Could the line be too old and therefor not tight enough? is it supposed to be wrapped around the hull somehow. It was tough to lean backwards and not simply fall into the water. I plan to order a righting bag asap as well.

2. the hulls took on a lot of water. I drained them back at the marina, but I can still hear a decent amount of water sloshing around in there that won't drain. Normal? Cause for concern? Solutions?

3. I can't find any youtube videos of how to right a getaway varitey. Anyone know of one? Care to make one ?

Any other suggestions are most welcome. My next few times out will be without the kids and will be practicing solo righting. My kids were indeed terrorized but within a few hours it became their grandest adventure story and they are so eager to go again.

I'm also new to the Getaway so your story causes me some concern. Do you know how the water got into the hulls? The water in the hulls may have contributed to the difficulty in righting.

Yours does have the float on the top, right? I bought the "righting bucket" to help a single hander right the boat (hope I never have to use it, though).

As you work through the scenes in recollection, please share them with us.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

You need to turn the boat to get the mast into the wind. Look at the diagram below. The wind has to be coming from front to back a bit to get under the sail. If pressing down on the sail. It won't work. Water in the hull would not cause problems unless in the hull that is up in the air. Basics are below. The Getaway has a righting line pre-run under the trampoline. Should extend just long enough to get your weight at about 45 degrees.

FAQ for review:

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

On page 2 of Getaway forums, check out: Capsized (x3). It is a video my cousin made with a GoPro, shows us righting the Getaway 3 times. I am unable to right it by myself, always need a 2nd person. Also, I never worry about the wind direction when righting, it has never been a problem.

Here is the attachment for the video clip:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aMug9SCdrCc

THANKS ! You make it look easy. One question, the blue and white hull righting line seems to be a lot longer on your boat than on mine. Mine (dry) barely reaches from grommet on port, through the midbeam eyes and back to the grommet on starboard with enough for a knot. Does it stretch out or did you lengthen it or is mine too short and/or I have it routed wrong?

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

I checked mine...It stretches! Didn't know that.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

OP here, thanks for all your replies. I am looking forward to capsizing again soon to practice!

my primary concern is just how stretchy the righting line is on my boat. If I were to just lean back on it I would be in the water before it pulled taught.

Tips, advice?

I noted that the guys in the video had to do sort of a pullup on the righting line and grasped it close to the grommet on the aft end, didn't notice what the forward guy did, though.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

That is correct, grasp it near the grommets and you are good to go. Yes, the righting line does stretch, but eventually it acts like a normal rope.

You will have problems if windy and the wind is from aft pushing the sail down. The other reason for proper orientation before righting is to keep the boat more head to wind once it comes up. If not, the sails power up and the boat could sail away from you or flip again.

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

It would be really cool if you added some keywords or modified the description to include "getaway", "capsize", etc. for people who go searching for this sort of thing. Thanks!

Quote: "I never worry about the wind direction when righting, it has never been a problem" made me laugh at a memory.

The first time I dumped my H-17, I swam the mast all the way around into the wind, instead of keeping it 45 degrees between the mast and bow.
When I righted the boat, the wind pushed it back over on top of me! In retrospect, I may not have unsheeted the main or traveller.

Also, Craig9r, I noticed you are directly pulling the sail down instead of using the center hole in the mast cleat and grommet as a downhaul. Is that deliberate?

_________________
Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

I have only capsized once in 5 seasons with the boat. I was sailing solo as I usually am and another powered vessel came by and offered to help me right the boat by towing me from the upper hull to pull it over. Never had to right it myself but I have been worried about it. Every season, I say I'm going to flip it on purpose in light wind in a convenient location to practice righting but I never do. Anyway, last season I rigged up a righting pole as I think that is the best leverage for righting. I have a righting bag also. Maybe this year I will get a couple guys to crew with me and flip it to practice, make sure my righting pole is rigged properly and works as intended and also just in case I can't right it solo, I'll have a couple extra bodies to get it upright again.

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2002 Getaway - SOLD in 2018 "Cheshire Cat"
2016 AI - Bought used 3.18.23 "Crabby Puppy"