woodbark
Member
And I'm not very good at it, so my pfd is on the minute I step on board. It so happened, on this particular day I chose to use a smaller device. This was not a wise move as I found out when I tried reaching the capsized centreboard. I'm only 5'5" and with the low buoyancy from the small pfd it was not impossible. My brother wore a similar device and is the same height but 5 years younger so .....guess who reached the board?
The next challenge, the mast refused to pop out of the water, main & jib sheets were free but it refused to lift. Two factors, my brother is abt 165lbs and the bottom of the hull is full faced to the wind and I don't even have enough buoyancy to push up on the mast. We were just getting ready to try and swing the cockpit to windward when some friendly power boaters offered to help raise the mast, 12" up and she just went straight up like a good thing.
How did we capsize? we all know the answer to that and it was the classic one as described by a fella by the name of Bradley writing on how to be a better C14 sailor in "Heavy Weather" This is what he writes:
Keep the boat on it's feet Keel boats like to be heeled.... Capri 14.2's don't. Try to keep the heel angle to no more than 10 degrees when beating to weather. Hike out, ease the sheets, ask for divine guidance, whatever, but .....avoid large heeling angles. The reason is that when the boat heels, the force vector from the sails will try to turn the boat upwind. And trying to stop a round-up with rudder won't be as effective as you might expect because most of the rudder will be out of the water. A round-up in a puff can happen in a heartbeat and if the boat flops onto the opposite tack the windward jib can capsize you. And there you have it folks! our classic flop!
My lessons learned, since I'm not interested in racing at this time:
1. Pay attention when you're sailing.
2. Keep your heeling to maximum 10 degrees.
3. Reef the Mainsail if winds are heavy.
4. Furl the jib if winds are heavy.
5. If you are sitting in your normal position you will be just aft of the jib sheet car and using the tiller extension (hiking stick). Reduce weather helm by shifting your weight aft a few inches, or raise the centerboard 2-3 inches to swing it aft a few degrees.
6. Wear a pfd that will keep me well up out of the water.
7. Install a mast floatation device.
Additional suggestions are very welcome, I want to be a happy sailor not a wind surfer!
The next challenge, the mast refused to pop out of the water, main & jib sheets were free but it refused to lift. Two factors, my brother is abt 165lbs and the bottom of the hull is full faced to the wind and I don't even have enough buoyancy to push up on the mast. We were just getting ready to try and swing the cockpit to windward when some friendly power boaters offered to help raise the mast, 12" up and she just went straight up like a good thing.
How did we capsize? we all know the answer to that and it was the classic one as described by a fella by the name of Bradley writing on how to be a better C14 sailor in "Heavy Weather" This is what he writes:
Keep the boat on it's feet Keel boats like to be heeled.... Capri 14.2's don't. Try to keep the heel angle to no more than 10 degrees when beating to weather. Hike out, ease the sheets, ask for divine guidance, whatever, but .....avoid large heeling angles. The reason is that when the boat heels, the force vector from the sails will try to turn the boat upwind. And trying to stop a round-up with rudder won't be as effective as you might expect because most of the rudder will be out of the water. A round-up in a puff can happen in a heartbeat and if the boat flops onto the opposite tack the windward jib can capsize you. And there you have it folks! our classic flop!
My lessons learned, since I'm not interested in racing at this time:
1. Pay attention when you're sailing.
2. Keep your heeling to maximum 10 degrees.
3. Reef the Mainsail if winds are heavy.
4. Furl the jib if winds are heavy.
5. If you are sitting in your normal position you will be just aft of the jib sheet car and using the tiller extension (hiking stick). Reduce weather helm by shifting your weight aft a few inches, or raise the centerboard 2-3 inches to swing it aft a few degrees.
6. Wear a pfd that will keep me well up out of the water.
7. Install a mast floatation device.
Additional suggestions are very welcome, I want to be a happy sailor not a wind surfer!