Some advice from serious sailors needed for an inexpert one! I sail an old Merlin (1961 I think - sail number 1220) and love it. However I was sailing it on the sea off Brittany this year and despite new flotation bags, self bailers and a builders bucket found it impossible to recover from a capsize. We got the dinghy up but she was so full of water we couldn't get underway and waves started breaking on us. Same has happened before - but i hoped new bags would solve the problem. Luckily a helpful friend with an engine was nearby. Any advice on how to recover from a capsize in these boats? - other than don't! |
I am not an expert on Merlins in rough water yet, but three thoughts. |
Can we have a link from the homepage called: |
Have a big bucket (tied on!). http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/training/fact_sheet_index.htm |
not too keen on keeping the crew in the water until the initial bailing is done, do you need a poking device to keep the crew in the water long enough (especially during November) |
Great - many thanks |
We capsized 111 (ribbed boat and small cockpit) at Clywedog (twice) and there are no flaps etc . We managed to get her emptied with a bucket and the self bailers and completed the race. One thing that seemed to help the steering (usually she screws up to windward when full) was not to put too much centreboard down then we could get steerage. Hope this helps. |
New slot gasket helps as does getting the crew to block the centreboard slot - sit with thigh along it if all else fails - but make sure all your buoyancy is adequate as we saw 36 Terrapin trying to live up to her name at Clywedog and go under water (twice!!). The bucket is essential but don't tie it on by just the handle as it can come off in a capsize and give the rescue boat a real test when it floats around with only the rim showing (Clywedog again!!) |
Ok, I know it's easy to say, but don't capsize unless the wind is blowing a near gale. |
Exactly the system Mike Clavert has always adopted. Don't often see him clambering onto the cetreboard do you? |
Calvert.........Centreboard |
I have a mainsheet block which has a cam which locks the mainsheet when pulled up if pulled lower even in line with the gunnel when hiked out the whole mechanism rotates downwards an uncleats. |
Similarly we have a pull up to cleat fiddle block on 2121 and it made no difference to the capsizing. What does count is time in the boat so helm and crew are used to the handling. We were given the Radox award last year for frequent bathing, when we first got the Merlin but due to more experience, have only gone over once this year and few survived those Clywedog gusts! |
The more experienced capsizers go over to windward on the runs though and that's not to do with the mainsheet block. Also sometimes the slammers at Salcombe can put you in without even cleating the main especially if it's just after diving across to the leeward side after a hole. Rob Wilder oh so nearly lost his open meeting at Hampton in a HUGE hole 50 yards short of the finish but with Alex diving for the leeward side they just survived though filled up! So sometimes it just has your sail-number on it, but time in the boat and experience help enormously. |
David "never capsizes" Baker capsized to the windward side at Tamesis Sunday morning. |
Tim and I managed the most spectator friendly capsize of the Hampton weekend with the whole balcony witnessing the perfect capsize drill. Three seconds after the finish hooter over we went to much amusement and cheers from the Hampton members. (By the way if anyone can tell me the state of the lead tip on the tip of the centreboard I would be most grateful as I was im the water at the time!!) |
I have had a lot of recent experience in this area...check your fwd buoyancy tanks and make sure they are empty..and pump up your bags before you set off..helps when when the boat comes up...forget the bailer, just get the boat up and get going...we capsized on the finishing line at Hampton as well..and just before it....and... |
Can anyone explain to a non-teccy, why the rudder stalls and what to do about it, apart from learning to swim? |
To understand in a non technical way, why a rudder stalls, think of the rudder functioning in the same way as a sail, if you let it out to much or pull it in too much too quickly the sail will stall, effectively the same thing happens under water. |
On a dead run , sometimes slightly by the lea , nice and windy and you are planing towards the Ferry Inn comtemplating how you can manage a gybe. Bam!! comes that by the lea gust, the boat rolls over on top of the helm , you try and luff but nothing happens ........rudder stalled ........in you go. |
Pull the mainsheet in to get the top of the main athartships again from twisting fwd! That'll stop it. |
Yep, it wasn't the rudder stalling it was the main twisting in front of the mast. The solution is to sheet in when it happens, or if it is predictable put a bit more kicker on. The rudder stalls when you try to recover from something that has gone past the point of no return. |
Spinnaker flying out to windward ,followed by loss of steerage more likely to tip you in if it's windy. |
Eamonn I remember hailing you off Britany coast in August 2005 whilst sailing a hired catamaran - sorry to hear of your capsize this year.Your posting reminded me of a great holiday and cheered me up because ive got a pot on my leg which wont be off in time for the Inlands! Regards Jeremy |
I disagree with observer, the spinnaker forces are quite low down and quite 'forward' and easy to dump power from. |
Here is a stalled rudder after a gybe. What you are trying to do on the run is keep the boat under the rig. If the boat heels too much for whatever reason there are 2 things that stall the rudder, the first is that quite a bit of it comes out of the water, the 2nd is that the twit in the picture is using too extreme an angle to the direction of travel in a vain attempt to avoid the inevitable & so the water flow detaches from the rudder blade -> stall. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/view_photo.asp?folder=gallery/open_meetings/salcombe/2006&file=salcombeopen2006_mills.jpg |
Alan, Ok too little kicker allowing the main too far forward can be a minor problem but the usual reason for a roll in to windward on a breezy run is a big gust sometimes by the lea hitting the spinniker and rolling the boat on top of the helm. The only way out is some quick work by the crew( who is normally oblivious to what is happening) or some quick moving and smart steering by the helm keeping the boat under the mast, when they are too late or too slow that's when you get a stalled rudder. |
Observer, I think you should reveal your identity, so I can judge if you are just a wind up or something. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/gallery/view_photo.asp?folder=gallery/open_meetings/salcombe/2006&file=salcombeopen2006_fullers.jpg |
Also, if you look at the picture you can see clearly that I have dropped the pole forward of the running position and there is so little pull on the spin sheet that it isn't even pulling out the downhaul, but look at the main, it is really pushing forward from the schouds and spreader, if Natt had the strenght to sheet back the main then the roll would have been corrected. |
Alan, It's mostly a wind-up, we've all capsized on a dead run and I know from my experiences its normally the spinaker that makes the boat unstable. |
Observer is wrong; the weather roll is caused by the mainsail twisting foreward at the top, a pull on the mainsheet would have at least minimised that; the Spinnaker to windward would be pushing the other way and if the guy had been pulled back and sheet overtrimmed a bit the sail would be just driving the boat fwd balanced. |
Is the identity of Observer and ):- a bit of a mystery or am I just in the dark? |
A weather roll can be caused by a number of factors, the least of which would be the main twisting forward, just look at the forces involved and how far the main would have to twist and how far the wind would have to be by the lea for any force to push the mast to windward. You may lose power in the top of the sail but it would be the spinnaker that pulls you over. |
Yes |
What an exciting debate on a boring Monday afternoon. Have you seen the 'Boat Whisperers' downwind video. This is all in Lasers, but they capsize to windward. I'm sure techniques are different but princple is the same. Interesting also the stalled rudder contributes to the disaster by pushing the stern up and the bow down. |
Definitely the main caused the capsize to windward not the kite, if played rite kites should make the boat more stable downwind. (Depending on the breeze) |
I would suggest observer test in a laser and lets his main out beyond perpendicular and see how far it has to go before the roll happens. |
Observer has capsized on the run but not for a few years, I would suggest less theory and more practice would help. |
Are you sure it is not the gybe that puts you in if you roll the boat and miss handle the sails? |
With all this knowledge I am amazed a Merlin Rocket ever capsizes, however if you seek further scholastic enlightenment C J Marchaj of Southampton University wrote a very good technical book which has pictures as well describing the dynamics. |
When Mr Mark Rushall was teaching me how to gybe in a force 7, he emphasized on the fact that if my crew keeps the kite flying threw the gybe life would be a lot easier for us. - Haven�t capsized downwind since then - so far... |
Its not the crew who keeps the kite filling on a gybe. ITS THE HELMSMAN!!!!!!! |
assuming the crew cleats the sheet and guy in the right place and doesn't just let them go! |
Its not the crew who keeps the kite filling on a gybe. ITS THE HELMSMAN!!!!!!! |
No, assuming the helmsman chooses to gybe at max speed and keeps HIS eyes on the kite. |
I don't disagree, but the crew has a responsiblity to trim the pole back during the bear away, otherwise the kite will collapse in the lee on the main. So if the crew does nothing or lets it all go then by your definition he can't gybe. |
Mark I doubt you've ever sailed a Merlin Rocket in a genuine steady force seven that's a lot of wind you can't even look into it without glasses on. |
Good job i dont wear glasses. You are right i doubt i have as well, but if i ever need to gybe in a force seven i shouldnt have any problems! (in theory) As for other comment, yes I meant crew and helm for those who like to be pedantic :) |
And don't Merlin sailors (or sailors in general) like to be pedantic! :) |
Loved some of the language in this thread. Particularly "athartships". What the hell does that mean? |
Across the boat at 90 degrees to fore and aft. |
Aha - that would be athWartships then http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=athwartships&x=32&y=14 |
correct slysedxia! |
Having a small head I hate to have a big capsize. Is there a cure and prevention? |