We had a turtled Hobie 14 back in the Winter...it was about 20 knots and 3-4 foot chop, I was 1 of 2 guys in the rescue boat.
The mast had filled with water and no matter what we did, she wanted to stay turtled.
We could get the mast to the surface, but due to the weight, the cold and the chop we couldn't manage to right it.
I had read somewhere...see reading mags/forums/books is useful...about using a powerboat to assist righting a turtled cat.
So this is what we did.
We threw the sailor a line and he tied it to the dolphin striker (H14 turbo) and then we moved the powerboat into the wind, so we had a straight line...powerboat...line....turtled cat (aft into wind as the line tied to the D'Striker was pulled to the rear).
Then the sailor stood at the rear on the cat....raising the bows.
Then we gently moved the P'Boat forward, which pulled the cat backwards, burying the aft more and raising the bows....more, more and then the line would pull the cat back over itself (sort of a reverse pitchpole) until it righted itself...into the wind.
Then we lowered the sails and towed the exhausted sailor and his cat back home.
Was easier to do than to write about it.
On my Hobie 17 I have a Baby Bob and I use the Hobie Shroud Extenders, as that gets the cat platform back over vertical to your advantage....then use the Hobie righting line....the bungee one...to right it.
Move your weight to the bow to move the cat towards the wind before you right it as then the wind at 45 degrees will assist in righting the cat.
As the boat comes over on top of you....jump into the water and get ready to grab onto the windward side of the Dolphin Striker to prevent the cat rolling right over again.
Practice it on a nice calm day, in shallow waters with a boat to help...if needed.
Happy and Safe sailing,
Nige
|