reboarding following capsize

newtosail

New Member
I'm scheduled to try a laser for the first time next lesson and hoped to get input on the best way to re-board after capsizing. Yesterday my instructor and I did an intentional capsize on a 420 (first time on that as well) and I just about killed myself trying to get back in the boat. The buckles to my life vest kept catching on the gunwales and I couldn't reach anything to pull myself up into the boat. Fortunately my instructor was there and put the hiking strap w/in my grasp. Even then, it took everything I had.

Beyond the obvious advice (hit the gym,) I'd appreciate input on the procedure for capsize, re-boarding, tips on staying on, etc. The radial set up sounds like a good start, but I'm not sure if its available at the sailing school. From you comments on my "sunfish vs laser" post, I think the sunfish is more appropriate, but there aren't any here to experiment on.

Where I'll be sailing is on an inland lake with typically "light & variable winds" which seem to disappear when I take a class. Yesterday, however, they were around 12-14 knots (but constantly changing direction) and no unintentional capsize!
 
Hi, try to get a look at "The Laserbook" from Tim Davison. Maybe your sailing coach has it.
Good luck
LooserLu
 
The good news is that the Laser is alot closer to the water than a 420.

My general technique for reboarding any dinghy is to:
  1. start at the windward side of the boat (so the sail provides as much counterbalance as possible)
  2. roll the boat over towards me by grabbing the rail so I can reach up/in and grab something (in a 420-like hull it's usually a hiking strap, in the Laser my arms are long enough that I can usually grab the far side).
  3. Kick as hard as I can to propel myself up and into the boat and grab my target handhold (this is key; anything you can do to reduce the amount you're pulling on the boat is a huge help). When I'm getting into the boat in shallow water, I'll push off the bottom at this point.
  4. Pull myself the rest of the way into the boat, sort of "slithering" over the side into a heap on the bottom of the cockpit, or draped across the deck (the idea is to keep as low as possible during the operation so that your center-of-mass is as low as possible in the boat all the time).
  5. Balance things out and then get up into a normal position.

You're correct that buckles and such on the front of a lifejacket are a major hindrance. I wear an ExtraSport jacket that has a zip-up front, so there's nothing there to catch on (the thickness of the jacket is still an obstacle).

I've actually gotten pretty good at steering the Laser while I'm draped across the deck with my feet in the water; I normally do that when I first leave the beach so I can swish my feet around and rinse off the sand/mud before I get into the boat. After a capsize it's a handy technique to help keep the boat from going off and doing something silly (like tack or bear away) while I'm in the final steps of getting into the boat.

Cheers,

Geoff S.
 
Another helpful capsize tip is to use the underwater rail as a foothold when you're trying to pull down on the centerboard.

I also just noticed that drLaser has an article entitled "Tips for Capsize Recovery
for Lightweights" (as well as a number of other useful items in the "Boathandling" section):
http://www.drlaser.org/plfCapsize.html

Cheers,

Geoff S.
 
John -- Can't add anything to Geoff's response other than to say enjoy yourself and have courage! Getting back on board a Laser is easier than a 420.
 
My advice - don't be too frightened of capsizing a Laser. I managed to roll my Laser three times in one of my first races (a new club record) and still finished my race. The Laser is a lot easier to right than other sailing dingies. After a few capsizes (and some terror on my part) I figured out some tricks to righting the boat quickly. Most sailors I race against have capsized many times. Last week, one of our best club racers capsized in a gust, righted the boat, and beat most of the field to the finish line.
 
The first time on my laser I capsized and couldn't get back in. The next time I went out, after downsizing to a radial rig, I practiced getting into the boat from the water- from the windward side with one hand on the main sheet to fill the sail and provide resistance, and with the other hand I pulled up from the little railings on either side of the cock pit.

I've been out on my radial 5 or 6 times now and I haven't capsized since. I feel I'm ready to start using my full rig on light wind days and want to go out in the radial when it's windier and more challenging. I welcome all laser sailors to bring their lasers to Newport and join me. :)
 
I appreciate everyone's feedback. Now, regarding the time that you couldn't get back in...(I can see that happening to me) What'd you do? I thought for sure I'd still be glued to the side of the 420 when we docked.

laser92719 said:
The first time on my laser I capsized and couldn't get back in. The next time I went out, after downsizing to a radial rig, I practiced getting into the boat from the water- from the windward side with one hand on the main sheet to fill the sail and provide resistance, and with the other hand I pulled up from the little railings on either side of the cock pit.

I've been out on my radial 5 or 6 times now and I haven't capsized since. I feel I'm ready to start using my full rig on light wind days and want to go out in the radial when it's windier and more challenging. I welcome all laser sailors to bring their lasers to Newport and join me. :)
 
newtosail said:
I appreciate everyone's feedback. Now, regarding the time that you couldn't get back in...(I can see that happening to me) What'd you do? I thought for sure I'd still be glued to the side of the 420 when we docked.

To heck with grace and finesse.... it's not like you need to be able to do a chin-up with your fingertips to get in... if you can't manage the "table" move described in a previous post, just hang on, try to hook one foot up over the edge, and flop yourself over headfirst into the cockpit like a fish.

Pick a sandy beach. take out a hull with no sail (which will be harder to get back into, by the way)... try it first in water where you can easily stand -- that way you can "cheat" and push up off the bottom. Next move out a little deeper, and so forth. If you run out of steam you can always swim the boat back in.

If you can't get back in, blow your whistle or otherwise hail someone else to help; another person can either steady the boat while you climb in or help haul you bodily aboard.
 
Well, I was lucky that it was low tide and to my surprise I was able to stand and walk the boat back to shore, as I was exausted at that point, but I went out in 15knot gusts, with minimal vang on, and I'm only 125lbs. Actually, on the sunfish I remember being able to get back in the boat while it was in irons, wheras with the laser that doesn't seem possible.
 
you can use your buoyancy aid to help a little - if you push yourself down into the water it will naturally fight you and you can maybe use this effect like a spring to help you into the boat...
 
Hey... none of those problems exist if you make it a dry capsize :) I usually try and make it a dry capsize (assuming i'm capsizing to leeward), the only time i'll end up in the water is if i capsize to windward. But lasers are close to the water and easy to board, just find something to hold and pull yourself in. When righting the boat just make sure the wind is on your back, and not your face; otherwise you'll find that when you are righting the boat it will do a full roll (over the top of you) and end up capsized once again.
 
Dry capsizes are fun lol, in a really windy race they are good when you have to dump sheet and the boom hits the water, you lose hardly any time and you still stay warm (hell they are even good for a rest if you are on your way out to a race)
 
Murphs said:
Dry capsizes are fun lol, in a really windy race they are good when you have to dump sheet and the boom hits the water, you lose hardly any time and you still stay warm (hell they are even good for a rest if you are on your way out to a race)


Not to mention it being a fast way to dump a lot of water out of your cockpit....
 
The first time I got any applause at my sailing club was when I managed a very pretty dry capsize during a particularly gusty race. I'd rather take a first place trophy, though... :eek:
 
if you find that thye sail is to windward and you know the boat is going to flip onto you, hold on to the daggerboard and you will go under the boat. this saves time during a race when swimming around the boat to the daggerboard will lose you precious time. my friend and i call this a "california roll"
 
Yeah california rolls are fun, instead of just holding the board, try going for the rail that is in the water with one hand as soon as the boat starts to come up. You have to be quick, but if you can catch it, the boat won't go all the way over the second time and you can be back in it real quick. Not really a way to get back in, but still get a nice quick ride underwater.
 

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