Capsizing and Righting
Righting Tips
Your UFO can capsize in a number of ways, and you WILL eventually capsize.
Rule #1 of sailing is ALWAYS WEAR A LIFE JACKET.
Rules 2-10: Refer to rule #1.
Rule 11 relates to the use of the hiking straps. You'll need to quickly get your feet out from under the straps in a capsize. Do not stick your whole foot down to the ankles under the straps. Only insert your feet so your toes only are sticking out the other side.
These 11 rules above will keep you alive to do the righting. Here are some other pointers:
Get the latest righting line setup, allows you to right the boat “from the water”, without climbing on the hulls. Except when it turtles.
After capsizing, quickly get to the boat to keep it from turtling (mast points straight down).
If you are separated from the boat, swim to the closest part of the boat. That might be the mast and not the hull to keep the boat from turtling.
Try to avoid turtling since it will take a lot of your energy and time to right the boat.
The hulls are extremely slippery! Consider wearing booties (Also consider not wearing booties as they interfere with the hiking straps)
Show, Don't Tell. #1 Righting from a capsize
Below is great Fulcrum Speedworks video describing how to right from a capsize - boat HAS NOT turtled.
Show Don't Tell #2- Righting from turtle
Below is great Fulcrum Speedworks video describing how to right from turtle.
Preventing Capsizing
The four major ways your boat will capsize are listed below. Click on the tab to read about the condition, cause, ways to avoid it, and the associated hazards/comments.
Pitchpole
Condition - Bow of the boat submerges while moving and the boat flips forward.
Cause -
Too much weight forward.
Rogue wave or boat wake.
Front foil breaks the water surface due to improper foil trim or going through a large wave.
Avoidance / Recovery -
Shift weight aft.
Avoid hitting waves head-on and be aware of large wakes.
Adjust the wand to fly at a lower level if there is chop or waves.
Hazards / Comments -
Rapid deceleration will launch your body forward. Your feet may stay stuck in the straps and release after you capsize. There is a chance you will land on the wand and snap it. If you ever sailed a catamaran, then you know all about the Pitchpole.
Flip to Stern
Condition - Hull flips to back of boat
Cause -
This happens during rigging or rudder adjustments while in irons.
A strong head wind will also push the sail aft adding to a heavy stern condition.
A rogue wave can lift the bow and compound the problem.
Avoidance / Recovery -
Lay flat on your stomach while working on rudder height or while fixing a fouled main sheet.
Your feet should be extended beyond the front of the deck.
Hazards / Comments -
This flip is really embarrassing.
Your ego will be severely hurt as you flip the boat like a noob.
This flip will most likely occur when you are showing your new UFO to your friends and family who are onshore watching. Expect extreme ridicule.
Flip to Leeward
Condition - Hull leans too far to leeward
Cause -
Over-powered by a strong gust or general conditions.
Weight too far inboard.
Avoidance / Recovery -
Luff the sail.
Head more into the wind.
Hike out more.
Consider re-rigging the sail for heavy wind conditions.
Hazards / Comments -
When capsizing, your feet may be stuck in the straps until you flip over. You will be thrown forward on top of the sail. Flipping to leeward most likely to result in turtling.
Flip to Windward
Condition - Hull leans too far to windward and your body hits the water
Cause -
A lull in the wind.
Too much weight outboard.
Flying too high for light air conditions.
Avoidance / Recovery -
Look for lulls on the surface of the water.
Stage 1: Move weight in if possible, and power the sail. To get more power, often you have to ease – because your sail is stalled. It's hard to know whether to ease or trim, so ease/trim in short but-not-too-fast cycles. With some experience, you can start to recognize whether you're powering up on the ease or on the trim by the force on the mainsheet.
Stage 2 - if you've fallen in a wind-hole and cannot recover, stretch out, put your torso & PFD in the water. Very counterintuitive. The PDF will provide flotation and the drag will stop the boat – so the foils will stop lifting. Don't let go of the mainsheet. The boat will come to sit flat on the water, pulling your head/torso out of it.
Hazards / Comments -
If the boat does flip to the side, your body will hit the water first and stop the boat. The hull will roll on its side and you can then slide out of the foot straps.
Turtling
Condition - Hull flips up-side-down
Cause -
You are thrown from the boat, and then while swimming back, the mast sinks completely.
Avoidance / Recovery -
Always use the foot straps and stay with the boat.
Once turtled, it can be very difficult to right the boat if the mast is touching the bottom. Be aware of currents due to rivers and tides. Align the boat to point into the current. Stand on a hull, pull on the righting line. Then, LEAN BACK WITH ALL YOUR WEIGHT. As the boat rotates, grab the front foil strut for more leverage. The boat will very, very, slowly flip. Once the boat is on it's side, re-align the boat with wind rather than the current to help make it easier to flip.
Hazards / Comments -
It only takes minutes for the boat to turtle. QUICKLY get back to the boat. If you are separated from the boat, swim to the closest part of the boat. That might be the mast and not the hull to keep the boat from turtling.
Try to avoid turtling since it will take a lot of your energy and time to right the boat.
