[Music]
this training video looks at how to deal
with a capsize for a single person
sailing dinghy capsizing is a normal
part of everyday sailing there's nothing
to worry about the boat won't sink
single handed boats are lighter than
two-handed boats and so are much easier
to deal with
after a capsize even sailors with years
of experience capsize and you should
practice your technique with deliberate
capsizes on light wind days to perfect
your technique to force capsize the boat
simply lean heavily to one side or the
other this imbalance of weight will
capsize the boat in the unlikely event
of becoming trapped under the sail
simply push up on the sail this will
introduce a pocket of air and then you
can swim free when in the water it's
important to keep in direct contact with
the boat at all times to prevent you
from getting separated this can be done
by either holding on to the mainsheet or
by holding on to the hull itself 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're 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 is fully inverted to make it easier
you need to swim to the center board 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
center board
if the center borders 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 center board 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 center board
and push down surface tension of the
sail on the water may need you to apply
a quick pump to break the sail which one
happens the boat will write quickly once
the boat is upright
you can then clamber aboard do not climb
in under the boom as it's 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 tow 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 write the boat without
actually getting wet this is called a
dry capsize and here's how as the boat
flips over if you're 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 center board using
your weight lean on the center board to
pull the boat back upright as the boat
writes itself step back over the side
back into the cockpit and keep yourself
dry as before you can then sort out all
the ropes 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 sale video for more
details on this so let's recap the key
learning points dinghies do not sync
when they capsize everyone capsizes even
the most experienced sailors so don't be
worried or embarrassed to ensure that
the sail flaps when the boat is pulled
upright make sure that the mainsheet is
loosened swim to the stern and make sure
the rudder is in place you must keep in
direct contact with the boat at all
times to prevent you from being
separated remember just 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 when the boat is flat
on its side it may be necessary to apply
a quick pump of pressure to the
centreboard to break the surface tension
caused by the sail sticking to the water
once the boat is upright you can clamber
aboard do not climb in under the boom as
there's a good chance you'll capsize the
boat once more once aboard be careful to
keep your head clear of the flapping
sail and boom when you get proficient
you'll be able to write your dinghy
without getting wet next steps
good capsize drill is an important part
of sailing being completely familiar
with what you need to do allows you to
be more confident with your general
sailing you should practice your drill
on light wind days to perfect your
techniques
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