Cockpit Re-entry after capsize

Alan Glos

Active Member
Here is a think about. Our Sunfish sailing cadre seems to be getting older, and I sail regularly with sailors 70 or older. Despite our best efforts to avoid a "swim" Sunfish do capsize from time to time and getting back into the cockpit after the boat is righted tends to get more difficult with advancing years.

I have thought about putting a loop of line around my hiking strap that can be draped over the side after a capsize to serve as an primitive board ladder, one foot in the loop, a kick with the other and a good two arm pull and you are back aboard. However, I have no idea if it would work and, here in Upstate NY the water is now too cold to try it out this season.

Comments? Would this idea work or would it simply leverage the hull into a second capsize? Has anybody ever tried it or some variation?

Alan Glos
Cazenovia, NY
 
I like it. A sort of rope ladder. They sell one that is used for small boats that has a plastic step in it. Maybe stow in the storage area, hooked to a hiking strap. I just got a Sunfish, all stock, looks to be a 1972. New rudder, storage compartment, serial 102763 on a sticker by the splash guard.
 
I suspect that it would make the boat act the same as if you sat on the edge of the boat with your legs over the side. The weight would be so far outboard that the boat would probably come close to capsizing if not completely flip. It would probably work if the line were led over the transom, and you climbed in over the back instead of the side.
 
I suspect that it would make the boat act the same as if you sat on the edge of the boat with your legs over the side. The weight would be so far outboard that the boat would probably come close to capsizing if not completely flip. It would probably work if the line were led over the transom, and you climbed in over the back instead of the side.
Interesting. Over the transom. I would try over the side first, but for sure you could not capsize again climbing in over the transom. Good idea.
 
My boat has cam-cleats on each side of the deck for the mainsheet. Picture me attempting the re-entry from the starboard side of the boat. What if I led a line thru the port cleat, under the hull to the starboard cleat with the loop a foot or two below the surface. Would that allow some weight to be shifted to the high side of the boat and make it slightly more stable? What do you think, since I've never capsized mine yet (big yet) I'm not sure how it works, just thinking of the kinetics. Cheers, Winever.
 
Our Sunfish sailing cadre seems to be getting older. . .
Shhhhhhh...! we all think we're still 30 something. I for one am only 30 something..., just don't tell anyone that "something" is another thirty.

I thought I'd begun to hear rumblings a shift in groupings was afoot..., anyone under 50 would be categorized as a Jr. and Nationals would find a perminant home at Branson, MO. ;)

More on the subject in this thread, posts 8 - 17 ... http://www.sunfishforum.com/showthread.php?p=150011#post150011

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I think over the stern may be best. But as an alternative, what about adding an extra halyard with a bos'uns chair, with the halyard led to an electric winch. tHen after a capsize just get in the chair and hoist yourself back aboard. BB
 
I'd caution against using any small loop of rope that one could get a leg through or get tangled up in. Think of it this way, your foot slips through the loop, the loop slides up around your ankle, calf or thigh and then the boat capsizes again.
 
My '62 'fish has a small hook at the front of the cockpit (sometimes used to take the extra strain off the main sheet) plus a fairly long painter tied to the bow handle.

While teaching my two lads on capsize recovery, we found that bringing the painter back along the deck, one loop around the hook & tossing the end over the high side allowed tremendous leverage & ease in righting the 'fish, it also provided a low center of gravity to pull one's self aboard with minimal acrobatics.

I found that a simple bowline at the end (temporary) helped quite a bit (my weight is more than it should be :rolleyes: )
 
Shhhhhhh...! we all think we're still 30 something. I for one am only 30 something..., just don't tell anyone that "something" is another thirty.

I thought I'd begun to hear rumblings a shift in groupings was afoot..., anyone under 50 would be categorized as a Jr. and Nationals would find a perminant home at Branson, MO. ;)

More on the subject in this thread, posts 8 - 17 ... http://www.sunfishforum.com/showthread.php?p=150011#post150011

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Thanks for the link Wayne. This weekend my goal is capsize and recover. Mike 76274
 
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the 'walkover'. If you know you are going over, just stand on the daggerboard, bring the boat upright and climb back in.
 
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the 'walkover'. If you know you are going over, just stand on the daggerboard, bring the boat upright and climb back in.

". . . just stand on the daggerboard, bring the boat upright and climb back in."

At what point in your learning to sail and at what age did you master this technique?

 
". . . just stand on the daggerboard, bring the boat upright and climb back in."

At what point in your learning to sail and at what age did you master this technique?

YouTube - Dolphin Capsizes Laser

I first took sailing lessons at age 15. Wasn't long before I "learned" to do this quite by accident. Found it to be quite repeatable. Didn't sail again until recently and I haven't tried it yet with my own Sunfish...

by Alan Glos:

...I have thought about putting a loop of line around my hiking strap that can be draped over the side after a capsize to serve as an primitive board ladder, one foot in the loop, a kick with the other and a good two arm pull and you are back aboard....

The "stirrup" has been used by sea kayakers with good success, from what I have read, but IIRC it is often used with a paddle float. Some kind of paddle float type accessory (it's basically an improvised temporary pontoon) would make it pretty easy, I think, but I don't know what that would look like to work with a Sunfish.
 
I walked over the very first time I capsized, which was my first time sailing the boat. That was in October 2 years ago, water temp was in the 50's and I had shorts on. Not once since have I ever walked over, but I haven't been sailing in water that cold since. I think it was necessity. :)
 
Let's try to refocus on the topic.

Alan invited comments on an idea he proposed to get less firm people back in the boat after a swim. Of course, alternative methods are welcome as well.
 
The walkover works in some cases. But if you get autotacked and dumped in on the low side or deathroll going downwind, you ain't doin no walkover. I can't believe no one has tried m winch idea yet ;)
 
Beldar, I have a set up like you were mentioning, with the electric winch and all, the problem I found was that the first time I used it the boat had turned turtle so when I got into the bosun's chair and activated the electrics I was hoisted to the bottom of the lake. I am currently looking to purchase one of those 10 minute mini scuba tanks in case I capsize again. I will persist as I think your idea has real merit.
 
Let's try to refocus on the topic.

Alan invited comments on an idea he proposed to get less firm people back in the boat after a swim. Of course, alternative methods are welcome as well.
First, "less-firm" people should be wearing PFDs when sailing in cold water—or where their capsized boat won't be "arriving" in shallow water in a reasonable time (with the "less-firm" alongside).

Second, to prevent a bad situation from getting worse, the spars and the mast should be able to (still) float.

My Sunfish was used in salt water by the previous owner, and all attachments have been compromised through salt water corrosion. Even my mast has perforated holes below the deckline. :(

Most of the rivets holding the rub rail corroded-through, leaving perfectly good holes in the fiberglass! (Since fixed with new rivets). ;)

I'm fortunate, as my particular location has many islands where I could wash up on shallow shorelines in less than 30 minutes, then right the Sunfish to go sailing again. (And why I simply plugged the leaking bailer hole). Otherwise, I am finding it more difficult to get back aboard, and a bulky PFD doesn't aid much in that effort.

So far, I like the idea of bringing a strap over to increase leverage while standing on the daggerboard. I wouldn't want a footstep, as I've been dragged behind a freshly-uprighted sailboat—my foot tangled in the extra-long mainsheet of catamarans—with an aggravating "face-full" of water coming up through my PFD collar. :eek:

As our water temperatures have dropped to the 60s, I'd definitely like to hear of more approaches. :)
 

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