Capsize Recovery - Sailfish 14 Deluxe Edition

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Starting a discussion, techniques and tactics for Sailfish 14 Deluxe (aka Super Sailfish) capsize recovery. The Sailfish 14 Deluxe is the 13' 9" Sailfish, built in the early 1950s, along with the Sailfish 12, Sailfish 12 Deluxe and Sailfish 14. These boats were all before the 1953 Sunfish. The Sailfish 14 and our one of a kind Deluxe are commonly known today as the Super Sailfish, it had a few extra features, a coaming and a toe rail. Another feature it had was a rubrail, and we found that very handy, pun intended, during capsize recovery. Found out a few other things yesterday while messing about off and on boats.

Here's the teaser.

 

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Okay, Learning Lessons for Sailfish Capsize recovery. I capsized TRACKER in shallow water by grabbing the halyard while I was in the water and slowly pulling the boat over. Made sure the sheet was clear, Skipper suggests throwing the sheet over to the recovery side so you have it in hand as needed. Made sure the daggerboard was in and swam up to the bow to pull her into the wind. Had limited success with turning her but the wind was light. Once she started righting I could grab the close handrail.

Tried to swim her into the wind again.

Success.

Midships boarding was no go for me, she rolled back over. Someone more fit may be able to hook a foot and scamble back on quick.

Skipper's next suggestion, grab the mast and pull aboard that way. That worked.

 

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Feet and legs make good sea anchors if you need to slow things down a bit.

This is a good sailing spot for me, at 200 pounds of movable ballast, bow up, stern slightly depressed.

Another favorite sailing position. Sailfish are fun to lounge on and ghost around, they need very little wind.

Good time to practice sculling.

 

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I got back onboard twice back by the stern, I was surprised how well she floated.

Here's a video of my 6th attempt to reboard from various spots, 2 from the sides were unsuccesful, one with the mast was a win, 2 from the stern were wins. On this try I was getting tired and didn't want to hurt anything, me or the boat, so we called "Knock It Off" and stopped filming.

 

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I rested a few minutes and reboarded from the stern one more time, that time I pushed the tiller out of the way for a better grip on the rubrail.

Here is another option, I could sail back to shore hanging on to the stern. I read an article where a sailor had done that who had a medical event while attempting to reboard his dinghy, held on to the rudder and sheet and got back to shore safely. It works and it is fun.

Learning Lessons:
1. Don't capsize.

2. Sheet management...know where all of you sheet is at all times, the time Skipper capsized and the times we felt capsize was imminent was when the excess sheet got caught under a foot, leg or cheek. Gather up excess sheet before tacking, make sure it is ready to run free. Remember the sailing preparatory command "Ready About?" That means check that the sheet can run and prepare to duck. The answer is "Ready" and then the command of execution is "Helms a Lee."

3. Stern boarding was easiest.

4. At age 60 I have 2 tries, maybe 3 at best, to get back on board. Otherwise TRACKER is trolling me back to the shoal water.

Skipper went with Learning Lesson 1.

In case you're wondering about the PFD, we did this part of the photo shoot in chest 4 feet of water.

 

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[Seaotter5]

Great info! Thanks for sharing! I think,I,need to start working out, though. At 63, reboarding looks like it could be a real "adventure" if the wind picks up!

 

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Know yourself and know your water and your wind. The Buddy Plan is a good plan.