JeffBecker wrote:
I had the opportunity to right my Tiger for the first time last weekend. Really, no special equipment other than a righting line and good technique are needed. The boat drifted around so the mast was pointing to windward. I got on the bow and swam it around so the bow was pointing to windward while the crew leaned on the righting line (he was the lighter of the two of us). The wind filled in nicely under the main. I then swam back and added some pressure on the dagger, legs still in the water, and up she came, still pointed into the wind.
The wind was blowing around ten knots, and our total crew weight was about 340 lbs. We weren't applying as much leverage as we could have. The wind did most of the work. Overall, an easier job than I was expecting.
I'd be careful of swimming the mast round - in big wind the boat can get away from you and travel down wind faster than you can swim. I've seen this happen (I picked the guy up out the water). When we flip the first priority is to get someone hiking back from the dolphin striker to stop her turning turtle. The other person checks the main and jib are uncleated and then pulls the spin back into the snuffer if it was up when we went over.
Next we get the bow pointed 45 degrees to the wind by moving toward the front of the hull. This makes it dig in and lifts the transom, allowing the boat to pivot without having to swim the mast. Then with the righting line thrown over the hull up in the air we hike out (crew leaning on my chest) and she pops back up.
In really big wind (>25 knots) the boat tends to move forwards in the water, making it hard to get back on board. One of us floats under the tramp (maintaining contact with the hull is easy on the 2005 tramp design) and steers the boat into the wind from the rudder arm whilst the other person climbs on when the boat comes to a halt. They then hold her close to the wind while the person in the water at the back of the boat grabs the skippers trap line and hauls himself aboard.
Chris.