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| Home >> Sailing Tips & Technique >> Re-Entry after Capsize |
This video has a re-entry at 1:40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOgbuDX5gFk
and this has one at 0:25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0t_hH1IBdI
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03/05/2015 12:10:57
Cliff
Posts: 47
I christened my 9 on my home lake in 18 knots with gusts over 25 and bullets up to 30 on wind shifts up to 30 degrees, normal shifts at this lake with a southerly. Two swims, both to windward on the shifts. Getting the boat upright was easy, regaining entry wasn't too difficult.
Will take it out next Sunday and if the waters not too cold try again ( late Autumn here).
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22/04/2015 09:14:59
Tijuana Taxi
Posts: 19
Having made the original posting on this theme I have now had 2 more capsizes:
on both the boat inverted, pulling up to 90 deg no problem!!
Hull easy to climb onto, & easy leverage off dagger board.
Re-entry:
Just pulled & pressed on the gunwhale, & kept body low, & flopped into boat.
Both times.
Boat again came up broadside on to wind.
Balance easily restored once on board.
Reply
19/04/2015 17:46:09
Jonathan Rickels
Posts: 104
I'm 68 kg and had my first capsize last weekend. The winds were 15 to 20 knots. The boat turtled but getting upright was easy. I did not attempt to point the boat into the wind and was not even aware of what way I was pointing.
I then attempted a side entry and the boat started to come over onto me. I released the boat allowing it rock back away from me and then when it was heeling away from me. I used its momentum and pulled myself in holding the grab rail. I achieved this without it coming back onto me and without requiring me to use the mainsheet to counter-act my weight.
Cliff
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15/03/2015 23:49:14
Cliff
Posts: 47
I would add the following to Peters comments-
I am currently the wrong side of 90kgs and was out last Friday and capsized twice - one intentional and one a cock up. Having been out of sailing and off exercise for a few months i am not the most agile. I did try to come over the side twice and the second time with a big kick I almost made it. However, in both cases I swam to the back of the boat, kicked to push it towards the wind , reached over the windward side with one hand grabbed the back of the toe strap and pulled myself straight in. It was exceptionally easy, in fact even easier than my supernova. I think the reason for that is the wide aft section makes the boat very stable and as the mast is stay less the boom is just blowing dead off wind, so the boat doesn't bear away.
At your weight I am sure you can get over the side with practice, but certainly getting over the stern is easy using the above route.
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08/01/2015 21:42:02
Posts: 0
Hi Andy,
Glad you enjoyed the sails.
Your conclusions are correct, the RS Aero requires a varied technique from the Laser due to the very light hull and rig.
The technique with video and written description is well detailed here;
Grab rails do make recovery into the boat amidships much easier. They are the 1st handhold and the toe strap is the 2nd. The lightness of the hull does give it less inertial stability, however from what I have experienced and watched it tends to go so far and then reaches a balance on the wide chine. A well timed leg kick and keeping your weight low certainly helps.
Using your rear hand on the traveller, without using grab rails, would certainly place you too far forward making it harder.
70kg should be able to recover amidships, however you still need strength to weight ratio (like in any boat) and a little technique. I have seen an 81kg sailor climb in amid ships without any wind to balance against. I have seen 93kg fail to climb in amidships in no wind, but then climb in the transom very easily. I have heard of 98kg climb in amidships when there was breeze to balance against.
That said, if ever anyone light or heavy struggles with amidships recovery then they should go straight for the transom. Rear entry is trivial and you managed that. Only after a new RS Aero sailor has trailed each do they know their personal preference.
Look forward to hearing about your next attempt in due course!
P.
Reply
08/01/2015 18:51:28
Peter Barton
Posts: 4671
As a Laser Sailor looking for a new challenge I had three test sails in the RS Aero and was impressed by its characteristics. It’s a no frills boat which is very comfortable, very dry as the spray goes away from the helm, so well balanced you can sail on points with no hand on the tiller, it cuts through the water up wind and is exciting and well mannered off the wind. As a Grand Master weighing less than 70 kilos the Radial rig is the best sail for me in a Laser but I have found the RS Aero 7 just as manageable and more fun. I was ready to order but had a torrid capsize on my last test sail and didn’t sign the cheque. The problem was I couldn’t get back into the boat and here are my thoughts on what went wrong after looking at the YouTube clips.
In my first RS Aero capsize I was able to use the traveller as a handhold (I don’t believe there were cockpit grab rails on this early prototypes). I was on the starboard side and I managed to pull myself in Laser style using my right hand to pull on the traveller and the left hand to pull on the sheet and fill the sail a little in a similar fashion to water starts when I used to windsurf.
1. I was on the port side still pulling on the traveller and probably with the right hand. Even though I turned the boat square to the wind it’s so light and I was so far forward that as soon as I tried to crawl aboard the hull quickly screwed up unto the wind and the boat came over on top of me.
Lesson 1 – when the boat is square to the wind use the grab rails and toe strap and make sure you are at least a third of the way down the cockpit towards the transom.
2. I was trying the Laser seal crawl over the side. If you look at the video you can see the sailors lower body and legs appear to move aft towards a horizontal position as he pulls on the grab rail and toe strap so he can get a leg over the gunnel near the transom and roll into the boat before it comes over on top of him. Almost like the crew being rolled into the boat after a capsize in a traditional double hander.
Lesson 2 – keep as much of your weight as you can off the hull and raise the lower body until you can get a leg over the side and quickly roll in to the boat so it scoops you up.
Next step is to try it out when the weather warms up if I am able to borrow a boat. If it works I will have to dust off that cheque.
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If you sail a Laser for many years capsizes are infrequent, often dry as you step onto the centreboard and if you do end up in the water with the boat upright the weight of the boat, and, the high buoyancy side decks allow you to do a quick seal flop onto the hull
– see youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td_a0K6y6Vg at 0:55.
Try this in an RS Aero at my weight (75 kilos including wet gear) and it just comes over on top of you because it is so light. The RS Aero seems to need a different technique.
In my first RS Aero capsize I was able to use the traveller as a handhold (I don’t believe there were cockpit grab rails on this early prototypes). I was on the starboard side and I managed to pull myself in Laser style using my right hand to pull on the traveller and the left hand to pull on the sheet and fill the sail a little in a similar fashion to water starts when I used to windsurf.
My last capsize was to port and although I righted the boat easily I couldn’t get over the side and after many minutes in the water and getting very cold I eventually crawled over the transom and retired from the race. Having looked at the video at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4xLFULqRcXM at 00:45
I think I was doing two things wrong.
1. I was on the port side still pulling on the traveller and probably with the right hand. Even though I turned the boat square to the wind it’s so light and I was so far forward that as soon as I tried to crawl aboard the hull quickly screwed up unto the wind and the boat came over on top of me.
Lesson 1 – when the boat is square to the wind use the grab rails and toe strap and make sure you are at least a third of the way down the cockpit towards the transom.
2. I was trying the Laser seal crawl over the side. If you look at the video you can see the sailors lower body and legs appear to move aft towards a horizontal position as he pulls on the grab rail and toe strap so he can get a leg over the gunnel near the transom and roll into the boat before it comes over on top of him. Almost like the crew being rolled into the boat after a capsize in a traditional double hander.
Lesson 2 – keep as much of your weight as you can off the hull and raise the lower body until you can get a leg over the side and quickly roll in to the boat so it scoops you up.
Next step is to try it out when the weather warms up if I am able to borrow a boat. If it works I will have to dust off that cheque.
Reply
08/01/2015 17:35:11
andywb
Posts: 1
Jon,
From the water
Start climbing on the front side of the board. That side is easier to get weight over (as it is blunt) and will be a shorter reach to the gunwale due to the RS Aero narrowing forward.
You are unlikely to climb on board before the boat comes up as the rig is so light so you need to reach up to the gunwale or control line tales (acting as capsize lines) below, to finish pulling the boat upright.
You should be pulling the aft end of the control lines, where the boat is widest amidships.
Amidships
The rib under the cockpit edge is the 'grab rail' and your 1st pull should be on that.
The 2nd grip/pull is onto the toe strap. Keep your weight low and kick your legs in time with your pull.
At 78kg I have never felt the need to pull in on the mainsheet to balance against the sail. Going for the transom instead would be no more effort than that.
Transom
Climb in the windward side of the transom.
As you go to the transom make sure the boat is not at a too broad an angle. If it is too broad it will be more likely to bear away as you climb in the windward side of the transom. The boat is so light that it is very easily manipulated whilst in the water.
Throw the tiller extension out of the way and do not use the tiller to climb in with.
The 1st grip/pull is on the honeycomb flaps, they are strong enough. You can either push your body up vertically or horizontally as you choose. The flaps will come down towards the water level as you push down.
2nd grip/pull is on the toe strap.
Again a big kick of the legs at key moment will assist the arms.
I have seen an 81kg sailor climb in amid ships without any wind to balance against.
I have seen 93kg fail to climb in amidships in no wind, but then climb in the transom very easily.
I have heard of 98kg climb in amidships when there was breeze to balance against.
Everyone has to find where their personal side/transom preference is. This depends on weight, agility, technique and wind strength and the only way to properly assess this is on your first capsize.
Let me know if anything is unclear and when you have some support give it another go.
Reply
21/12/2014 22:14:03
Peter Barton
Posts: 4671
Hi Jonathan,
A full description with video and text is already in the 'Sailing - Tips & Technique' forum under 'Capsize Corner' thread. Have a good look at all those videos and associated text which should answer all your queries;
I will also respond to your specific questions when I have more time later...
Reply
21/12/2014 19:05:54
Peter Barton
Posts: 4671
I am sure Peter will be along to give chapter and verse on this, but from what I know to date, the secret is to use the boats lack of weight.
Getting in with the boat pointing well of the wind will be difficulty. The good news is that provided the mainsheet is released, its easy to just grab the boat and point it where you want it. If you are at the stern, stick it into the wind and the mainsheet is now easy to grab. If you want to get in over the side, then slide the windward side down past you, point the boat a bit off wind until the sail fills and using that pressure by holding the mainsheet, grap the handle on the edge of the cockpit, big kick and over the centreline. I have seen a much heavier sailor than you do that reasonably easily. If you try and grab the footstrap initially, you will pull the boat on top of you.
For the stern, just make sure you have pointed the boat into the wind, choose a side, hands on the flap frames, push down and kick, then in on the one side, right hand grabs footstrap and in. I assume you may have been having more of a problem because the boat was off the wind, so as soon as you try and get in, it bears away and starts another capsize?
We spent some time trying this a few months ago in some quite rough weather as we wanted to be sure it wasn't a problem where we sail.
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21/12/2014 15:03:11
Posts: 0
Has anyone else found it difficult to re-enter the boat after capsize?
Wednesday took 1141 out for its 1st sail @ Grafham using the 7 rig in Bft top 3 gusting 4, & after a few reaches to & from beach capsized.
Righting boat not too difficult: I'm ~ 72 Kg sailing weight, boat all up ~ 40 Kg.
Noticed the boat does not quickly invert - Great - well done RS!!
Also:
The boat would spin quite readily into a tight reach line almost beam on to the wind, though would hold this with my weight weight on the dagger board. So boat comes up with sail & boom almost at 90 deg on the opposite side & main sheet hanging over opposite side.
Reaching from dagger board to gunwhale is a long reach, pulling on the Outhaul & Cunningham lines means pulling in a lot of slack before get purchase; not easy to grab under the deck fold, & not sure the barrels are meant to take this strain. [ED - Righting Lines now available]
Re-Entry altogether more difficult:
Over the side:
Found could not reach the either the Toe Strap or the Main Sheet; Main Sheet hangs out over the down side. Could reach the rib under the cockpit coaming, but without pressure in the sail the boat just came over on top of me.
Over the Transom:
Found there's almost nothing to get hold of, & as soon as I put downward force on the transom flap the boat leaned over, & capsized again.
After 4 - 5 tries the rescue boat came out. Found getting back in from the rescue boat was tricky; unless 1st weight goes stright into cockpit centre.
I believe Peter Barton teaches both methods of Re-Entry in his fleet training day.
As yet we don't have the numbers at Grafham.
In the meantime can anyone offer any advice please?
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21/12/2014 09:56:26
Jonathan Rickels
Posts: 104
