Let’s now look at what you need to do step by step to recover from a capsize.
When you first go into the water, check that you are not caught up on any loose ropes and
make sure that the mainsheet is fully slack, which will mean that the mainsail flaps when
the boat is pulled upright.
Next swim to the rear of the boat, this will ensure that you do not get trapped under the
hull should it invert.
And while you’re there check the rudder hasn’t fallen off, if it has, refit it.
If you feel the boat rolling on top of you, you need to swim clear and let the boat settle.
If however you do get trapped under the boat then you need to take a deep breath and bob
out from underneath the upturned hull.
In this example the boat has fully inverted.
To make it easier you need to swim to the centreboard in preparation to right the boat.
To increase leverage try to get out of the water by climbing on the lip of the upturned
hull and grab hold of the centreboard.
If the centreboard has slid back inside the boat, simply grab it and fully extend it like
this.
This provides greater leverage to right the boat.
But be careful not to damage the trailing edge of the centreboard as this is a thin
edge and is delicate and very easily damaged.
Now you just need to lean back, there’s no need to strain here as a gentle and sustained
pressure will suffice and is the key to an effective capsize procedure.
Slowly the boat will adopt the flat capsize position, which, when reached you need to
apply all your weight to the top of the centreboard and push down.
Surface tension of the sail on the water may need you to apply a quick pump to break the
seal, which when happens the boat will right quickly.
Once the boat is upright you can then clamber aboard.
Do not climb in under the boom as it is likely that the extra weight of you under the boom
will pull the boat over once more so you should swim to the opposite side of the boom and
climb in from there.
To help you, grab the toe straps for extra leverage.
Once aboard be careful to keep your head clear of the flapping sail and boom.
Sort out all the ropes and make sure nothing is tangled and open any drainage points and
start sailing.
As you get more proficient and more experienced it is possible to right the boat without actually
getting wet this is called a dry capsize and here’s how.
As the boat flips over, if you are quick, you can end up sitting on the uppermost side
of the boat, you can then quickly step over the boat and stand on the centreboard.
Using your weight lean on the centreboard to pull the boat back upright.
As the boat rights itself step back over the side back into the cockpit and keep yourself
dry.
As before you can then sort out all the ropes and making sure nothing is tangled, open any
drainage points and start sailing.
During the capsize process you may have become stuck in the middle of the no go zone and
be unable to sail away.
This is called being stuck in irons.
If this happens simply push the boom well out to one side and steer the boat backwards
away from the no go zone.
See our First Sail video for more details on this.