First Capsize = Coast Guard Rescue !!!

The angle thing is not an exact science. Just get it so that the wind is going to be blowing under the sails from the forward direction and give it a go. As soon as you get wind under the sails it will come up. The earlier suggestion to rotate the boat around the mast by sinking the hulls is a great move so that you can get the wind forward. You said that the wind was from directly behind you. You could have walked forward on the hull and sank it all the way on purpose and when it came up on the other side the wind would be directly forward and you could then make your righting attempt. I have used that many times. The only time I have had trouble getting the boat up was when the wind had gone light and I was by myself. By "trouble" I mean that it took a little longer and more effort than it usually does. Never been helped over yet (knock on wood). Of course I am usually on the lake by myself, so no one there to help anyway.

Hey Jman6631, are you still using the original sails on your boat? Below in the signature is a picture of our '81 with the original "Cat Fever" colors...Yes, they are still crispy!

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1981 H16.
1993 Macgregor 26S

Hey thanks mdgann.

So, to make sure I understand you, you suggest standing on the hull with my back to the wind and the wind blowing directly at the underside of the tramp, to stand on the bow and sink them all the way so that the boat does a 180, bows down and through the water, until it comes up on the other side such that the other hull is now in the water?

Forgive me, I'm just trying envision it, but wouldn't that only cause the boat to rotate essentially in the same plane, pivoting around the mast, only to come up on the other side with the other hull in the water and the wind still at my back? Or, do you mean that by doing this the wind will also be pushing the stern downwind while they swing up and out of the water and on their way over to the other side?

Until now I've always thought that standing just ahead of the forward crossbar creates a sort of fulcrum that causes the wind to push the stern downwind and ultimately gets the sails in a better position relative to the wind to assist with righting.

I'm a little confused (obviously!) so if you could elaborate a little I'd appreciate it. I also failed to mention the fact that the current was with the wind and against me. Would that require a change in tactics? Thanks in advance!


Swampcreek: I definitely like those cat fever colors! Yes, mine are still original tequila sunrise but I don't believe they are very crispy. The good thing is when I bought the boat I got three mains, two colored and one white and very crispy, and two jibs, one colored and one white and crispy. I mostly use the colored ones.

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'81 H16

If it ain't a blowin', I ain't a goin'