Turtling

TeamOso

New Member
Hey guys im 15 and ive just really gotten into sailing, and more importantly looking to get into racing.
i live in corpus christ texas and unlike some of the places where you all live....its windy and hot enough to sail year round.
i got stuck way in the mud today that i needed a boater to tow me loose, a milk jug would fix this problem?

Also how could i go about joing the circuit in my area?

Any ideas on where to find a race ready and competitive boat in my area? i have a 1973 i think, and its just a heavy boat, dont think its suitable for racing, am i right?

Thanks
Kevin
 
Yeah you kinda did.... Any boat can be raced but a heavy boat prolly wont be the most competitve boat ever. It is hard to find a really good used boat for a nonexpencive price. Putting a milk jug at the top of the spar would help in the capsizing but I am not sure as it would be race legal... I've never seen anything in the rules about it. Best of luck to you in the racing!
 
Hey guys im 15 and ive just really gotten into sailing, and more importantly looking to get into racing.
i live in corpus christ texas and unlike some of the places where you all live....its windy and hot enough to sail year round.
i got stuck way in the mud today that i needed a boater to tow me loose, a milk jug would fix this problem?

Thanks
Kevin

Corpus Christi is a high-wind mecca :D , so I have heard; I am jealous!

Using a motor boat to get out of the mud is tricky because it's easy to bend or break a spar that way.

To prevent turtling, a milk jug might help. Here is some more advice:

http://www.sunfishforum.com/showthread.php?t=2225
 
That's a great link, btw.

What I suggest after reading it, is to practice with the sail away from where you're standing—in shallow water.

Once capsized in deep water (literally and figuratively) I found that after righting it, it was easier to crawl aboard from the transom: grip both sides of the boat alternately while pushing down with the elbows. That will submerge the transom and you can slide and shimmy back "a-board" on your tummy.

'Not sure about that technique in strong winds, though.

You can fix "heavy" in one afternoon with a saber saw, small drill bit, and a "port". (They make pop-out or screw-out designs—pop-outs being cheaper.)
 
Going over the transom is a good idea, I used to have to do this before I could reach the board itself. I would grab the bailer to help pull me up and give me something to hold onto.
 
TeamOso,
I live in CC also, and you're right, the weather's good for sailing all year round. Where are you launching from that you're getting stuck? I used to go to North beach past the Lex, and sail into the marina and tootle around for a while, but the 100-yard sandy drag to and from the trailer was a bit of a bummer. I've taken lately to just dropping off in the marina at the public ramp, and going out in the heavy water outside the rocks only when my 6-year old isn't with me and I'm feeling froggy.

Point is, there's no place except the ramp that is more shallow than an inverted fish.

Nice to see another coastal bend sailor here, welcome.
 
TeamOso,
I live in CC also, and you're right, the weather's good for sailing all year round. Where are you launching from that you're getting stuck? I used to go to North beach past the Lex, and sail into the marina and tootle around for a while, but the 100-yard sandy drag to and from the trailer was a bit of a bummer. I've taken lately to just dropping off in the marina at the public ramp, and going out in the heavy water outside the rocks only when my 6-year old isn't with me and I'm feeling froggy.

Point is, there's no place except the ramp that is more shallow than an inverted fish.

Nice to see another coastal bend sailor here, welcome.

I launch at the ramps also, when leaving the ramps, to the right I flipped in front off all the J's on their trailers. I got dug in real nice.
Do you race around here?
 
Oso,

How far did you get before you flipped? Did you rig and hoist while on the trailer? I drop my boat with the mast up and the spars down, pull it till it's at the far end of the ramp and finish rigging there. The last thing I do before casting off is raise the sail. In a favorable wind you can pinch tight and get out on one close haul, otherwise it's just a pair of tacks.

Did you get dumped once you were in the marina proper, or were you still in the channel heading out? How close were you to the nearest seawall?

I've actually never dumped in the marina, I was only guessing that it was at least 15' deep or so, there's a lot of big-draft boats here.

As for racing, there's an every-Wednesday regatta I'm told, but I have a standing Wednesday activity that prevents me from going. Another bummer. Someday I'd like to. Corpus people are pretty laid back, as I'm sure you know, I doubt they'd give you a hard time for a heavy fish, no registration, or a milk jug on top of your spar. I sail an Aquafinn clone, and I'd wager they'd let me race. As so many others have pointed out, the idea is to GET OUT ON THE WATER AND SAIL! The Sunfish dealer is right there on the corner, and so is the dinghy sailing school. Both of them would know the particulars of getting signed up for Wednesday nights. Let me know what you find out, and I hope to see you out there some weekend.

Tom
 
The wednesday races are MORF races and Im on the J24s and IC24s.
I was in the middle of the channel heading toward the old coliseum. Tiller ext. snaped and I got dug in maybe 3ft. ANd I wasnt even completely turtled. A guy that helped me pull it loose said its like 8-10ft in that area.
I do what you do when launching cept I go in the middle slip point her upwind, raise the main then hop in turn and head out. It doesnt always go as smoothly s that but i try.

Kevin
 
I guess I was misinformed about the Wednesday night races, I thought they gathered and raced all comers, split into classes. Oh well.

Glad you found someone nice to help out, no rudder control is a sure recipe for disaster.

You should still stop by the Sunfish dealer or the dinghy school to see if there's something else out there.

Tom
 
I will a guy told me about the sunfish circuit and there are a few around labor day at canyon lake. I still have alot of practice and buying to do before then. Nice to meet you, see you on the water sometime

Kevin
 

Back
Top