Solo Righting from Turtle

After almost 3 seasons on the Hobie 16 my first turtle (actually twice that day) Not sure what caused it, except maybe the strong wind pushing on the trampoline.

I had an idea of how to right it - stand on back of leeward hull wait for it to flip to it's side. Easier said then done though. At least the mast is sealed

Any comment appreaciated.

Otherwise enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOAcVPJ4y3U

You started out by trying to stand on the windward hull. I think that was your problem. As soon as you walked over to the leeward hull, the boat popped right up.

Also, the video shows you on the trap steering with one hand and holding the trap handle with the other. You probably want to let go of the handle and hold onto the mainsheet. You will have a lot more control and be much less likely to flip if you're holding the sheet.

sm

Not sure about that, "at least the mast is sealed" statement. I've been over in 25+ knots of wind and it still didn't turtle. You may want to check that out. Great Job and staying with it. What was the water temp cause it looked cold to me? You ought to try a Hawaiian system so no matter which side or what orientation you have a line to pull on and can just drop it and go when it begins to come up. Very handy for me. Plus you have 2 points where the line is attached to the boat so it is much more stable than just one point. That really helps when trying to stand on an inverted hull. Another thing is that when I go to the back of the hulls the boat usually rotates both bows up into the air ^ ^ and then flop sideways and I go forward and stand on the bow while the wind clocks it around til the bows are pointing into the wind. Yours seem to come up sideways the whole way. Again, great job.

Damn good job bud. I may have had some more choice words that would've needed bleeps as i looked around and was the only boat on the lake, looked like a good wind to sail though. I hate it when I slip off like that to and go for a wild swing, but what the previous said, let go and relax, sheet in one hand and stick in the other, sometimes for pulling more sheet it I hit the lock and hold it in my teeth while i reach down to grab more line, so far thats the only way I can accomplish it without my steering getting all crazy and looking like I'm trying to sail in a S pattern or something,.....Yes I've been called crazy many times in my life.

I've only turled once and (in my mind) it went slower, and didnt make it all the way upsidedown before I could get on a bow, mine spun both up also, rudders down, and then on it's side.

I watch Charles Aout 2013 over and over looking at every detail to try to learn more on how to solo trap the way I want to. check it out if you haven't seen it all ready.

I wore a short sleeve wet suit. Water was probably 67-68F, Air about the same.

I am also puzzled why it turtled. I have flipped it >15 times total before this outing and it never went upside down. I don't think I hung on the trap wire too long either....

I agree I need a different righting system, but not sure what's best. I used to have a rope at the base of the mast that I would throw over the top hull.... my 18 has a stretchy line, that is not perfect either because it stretches when u dont want it to...

Thanks. I was pretty pleased for my first turtle.

I gotta check this out... thanks.

I am not too thrilled about having the main sheet cleated off, but I can imagine not cleating it off, it would just so much energy to hold on to it even with the 6:1 blocks.

Cleating off the mainsheet is not a problem, but you gotta at least hold the thing in your hand.... In the video it looks like you have one hand on the tiller and one hand on the trap handle, so where's the mainsheet? Hull flies, pop it out of the cleat and ease some sheet. You can't do that if the sheet is sitting on the tramp, it's like trying to drive a car with one hand on the wheel and a cinder block on the gas pedal.

sm

Sm's got it right! No way I'd trap without the mainsheet in hand, especially on gusty days. I've had both the snap-back and Hawaiian righting systems. The snap-back is easier to get over the hull in a capsize for more leverage, but on a 14 or 16 they tend to drag in the water somewhat. Looks like you did fine with the line under the hull, though. The Hawaiian's nice, stores up and out of the way, but it's not as easy to get over the hull and seems to give you a little shorter line. On my 14 right now, I just carry a piece of old mainsheet, tied to the front posts and looped in the dolphin striker.

Dave

oh now I see it, the main sheet is looped around his left hand thats holding the trap, but still like said let go and hold the sheet, but you did just give me and idea for the sheet and how to grab more line,..............

I've watched your other video's also, your mast has to be taking on water because it sinks fast, I used some stuff called "seal-all" i think it was, mine will float long enough for me to swim around and uncleat jib, and my travler, then swim around and climb on with no real rush

I keep the main sheet draped over my forearm, so I can hold on to the trap handle for balance. I don't think I have ever capsized my H16 because I wasn't fast enough grabbing and releasing the main sheet. Most of the time I either capsize because I am getting taken out by a wave and lose balance, or just sitting on the rail not really focused.

I will try to implement what you say, maybe I just need a wider stance for more stability so I don't need the trap handle as much.

I know what you are saying with the mast taking on water, but...

If the mast was taking on enough water to sink quickly, I would imagine being upside down for 6 minutes or so would get even more water in it, which should not make to mast float so the boat ends up on it's side eventually.

I still think the wind pushing on the trampoline is more likely to have caused the turtle.

Mainsheet draped over your arm.... I don't know about that technique. Seems pretty sketchy to me.

I would hold the sheet in your hand. The mainsheet will give you better balance than holding onto the trap handle since the mainsheet leads inward, it will actually provide some pressure to keep your feet against the boat.

sm

"I still think the wind pushing on the trampoline is more likely to have caused the turtle."
Pretty good point, that did seem like a good wind.
I'm not sure as I've only been doing it one season but I think I remember being instructed once you advance on the trap you want your feet together. I'll have to agree on the sheet pull to give you down pressure and balance. even in my hand I've gone over not letting out soon enough, trying for that sweet spot as high as i can fly.

Well I have to agree with the wind on tramp creating the quick turtle. I have been over several times in lighter winds and never had a issue of turtle. But this weekend we had 17-20 winds and we went over and the boat was sinking fast but was able to get on hull before it completely turtled and got it back up quickly.