Messages

Tom,
You're right, its me! Had great fun on first sail, just got caught out by a sudden gust / lull / gust when we turned onto a run.  Anyway, we always intended to capsize, just to try out righting (and I'm sticking to that story)!
I'll invest in a suitable hand-bailer - I think my daughter will quite enjoy using that!  She quite liked capsizing (though when I looked up just after tipping in, she was dangling by both hands from the 'top' gunwhale, until I coaxed her into the water).
Still glad I bought the N12 - its a pocket rocket...

Our AC boat sits with the side decks awash and the transom underwater post capsize. The technique needs a bit of practice, but once mastered is really simple - provided there is enough breeze (if not find a slipway!). Open the bailers before you start so that you do not need to grovel in the bilge once underway, keep the weight well back and the boat flat as you bear away. I find it also helps to raise the board a bit, it closes off the slot and means the boat will accelerate faster as the weight reduces.

Dear all,
as newbies, my daughter and me had the opportunity (!) to try this out on our first sail in N3237.  We righted easily enough and then set off on the reach.  However, while the water flowed out of the transom flaps easily enough, the level then stayed up to the rear buoyancy tank and didn't want to drain much more.  We had self bailers open, but the wind had died somewhat so they weren't sucking much.  Also, as couldn't get much more water out, the boat was rolling quite alarmingly when half full - how to stop just tipping back over? It wasn't too breezy and the wate was flat, but I can imagine it being easy to capsize / right / capsize in more difficult conditions.  Am I missing something, or am I going to be depending on the rescue boa if we ditch in a blow?!

Bought N3237 from Pete Snowdon - absolute bargain loads of boat in a small package! Pete's done wonders on renovating her.  Intend to sail her with my daughter down at Trimpley SC, near Bewdley in Worcs / Shrop.  Can't wait to get out on the water - pictures of sailing and capsizing to follow!