DiMoCA
New Member
So I took the '82 fish out this week, for what will likely be the last sail of the season, with a plan to carry out a capsize and recovery drill. I've been sailing very conservatively since I bought the boat in August, because it's been years since I single-handed. Most days the wind has been light and gentle, with one notable exception -- a 24 mph gust came up out of nowhere and ripped the sheet right out of my hands. I was lucky not to fall overboard even though the sail was now as depowered as possible under those conditions. But it served as a warning, and so I went out in calmer weather, fully prepared to learn how my middle-aged frame would handle the "scramble back on board" aspect.
There were a couple of other boats going out, and I told both that I was going to intentionally capsize, maybe more than once. I had a Hydroskin wetsuit on, good PFD, and my cell phone in a waterproof sleeve. One skipper was a little dubious: "So you don't want me to come over, because you're not going to be in trouble?" and I said "If I really do get in trouble you'll see a blinking light." At this he relaxed. I sailed for a few minutes, put the boat over, and found the best way back up -- which took a couple of tries and turned out to be hauling myself up by the mast. The whole thing -- two capsizes back to back, then the recovery -- took less than ten minutes total. Beautiful warm sunlight, cool water, no issues.
And.... as I was sailing peacefully down the lake .... what should I hear but an outboard motor, coming right at me! Despite all that planning someone had called the police when they saw the sail go over. The guy had the grace to look a bit sheepish, because obviously all was now fine, and he took my word that the capsize had been intentional.
So I am here to ask: how could this have been avoided? Is there any signal that can indicate to watchers that you do not need to be rescued, or is the custom for any motorboat to come up to any sailboat that goes over for longer than a few seconds?
There were a couple of other boats going out, and I told both that I was going to intentionally capsize, maybe more than once. I had a Hydroskin wetsuit on, good PFD, and my cell phone in a waterproof sleeve. One skipper was a little dubious: "So you don't want me to come over, because you're not going to be in trouble?" and I said "If I really do get in trouble you'll see a blinking light." At this he relaxed. I sailed for a few minutes, put the boat over, and found the best way back up -- which took a couple of tries and turned out to be hauling myself up by the mast. The whole thing -- two capsizes back to back, then the recovery -- took less than ten minutes total. Beautiful warm sunlight, cool water, no issues.
And.... as I was sailing peacefully down the lake .... what should I hear but an outboard motor, coming right at me! Despite all that planning someone had called the police when they saw the sail go over. The guy had the grace to look a bit sheepish, because obviously all was now fine, and he took my word that the capsize had been intentional.
So I am here to ask: how could this have been avoided? Is there any signal that can indicate to watchers that you do not need to be rescued, or is the custom for any motorboat to come up to any sailboat that goes over for longer than a few seconds?