My Capri capsized while towing behind a bigger boat, when we had 30+ knot gusts from behind.
I just finished sailing trip on a big boat and towed my Capri 14.2 behind for the trip. We sailed around Pensacola, Florida for 5 days chartering 2 Beneteau sailboats, a 33' (I skippered) and a 38'. I sailed my Capri plenty at different anchorages. I found the Capri tows well with the centerboard down about 3-4 inches and the rudder up. We towed it last year for 5 days behind a Catalina 36'.
We sailed across Pensacola Bay with 15-20 knot tailwinds and everything was fine. The 33' was getting overpowered in gusts over 20 knots across the deck. We took a 30+ and the Capri capsized under tow.
I had some teenagers for crew, so one jumped in and righted the Capri and lowered the centerboard all the way down. Another gust over 30 knots and the Capri capsized a 2nd time and started to turtle. Two of the boys got into the boat and had to ride out the last mile to keep it from rolling over again. It was a real rough ride for the last mile back into the marina, they said it felt like they had whiplash from being tossed around.
I cut them loose about 100 yards from the gas dock at the marina and they beached the Capri. I parked the 33' with a cross breeze against the dock. We had sustained 25-35 knots for the next 1.5 hour pinning the 33' against the dock.
30 knot gusts would probably have been fine as a headwind, but off the back quarter was enough to roll the Capri over. Doing it again, I think bring the boat to the leeward side of the big boat could have helped prevent it from capsizing. Although, I don't know if it would have towed well along side of the big boat?
-Robert
I just finished sailing trip on a big boat and towed my Capri 14.2 behind for the trip. We sailed around Pensacola, Florida for 5 days chartering 2 Beneteau sailboats, a 33' (I skippered) and a 38'. I sailed my Capri plenty at different anchorages. I found the Capri tows well with the centerboard down about 3-4 inches and the rudder up. We towed it last year for 5 days behind a Catalina 36'.
We sailed across Pensacola Bay with 15-20 knot tailwinds and everything was fine. The 33' was getting overpowered in gusts over 20 knots across the deck. We took a 30+ and the Capri capsized under tow.
I had some teenagers for crew, so one jumped in and righted the Capri and lowered the centerboard all the way down. Another gust over 30 knots and the Capri capsized a 2nd time and started to turtle. Two of the boys got into the boat and had to ride out the last mile to keep it from rolling over again. It was a real rough ride for the last mile back into the marina, they said it felt like they had whiplash from being tossed around.
I cut them loose about 100 yards from the gas dock at the marina and they beached the Capri. I parked the 33' with a cross breeze against the dock. We had sustained 25-35 knots for the next 1.5 hour pinning the 33' against the dock.
30 knot gusts would probably have been fine as a headwind, but off the back quarter was enough to roll the Capri over. Doing it again, I think bring the boat to the leeward side of the big boat could have helped prevent it from capsizing. Although, I don't know if it would have towed well along side of the big boat?
-Robert