capsizing, rehearsed but horrible....

Rockter · #1 (**permalink**) 01-07-2012

Educational : capsizing in flat calm....

Yachting Monthly's Crash Test Boat Capsize - YouTube

Damn it guys, what must it be like with the sea running at you too, mast gone and repeated capsizes?

We sailed our ship right across the North Atlantic, and she rarely put the rail down. It was wet, lots of times, and there was the occasional rogue wave, and I ended up sitting in water up to my waist a few times, but the thought of getting rolled, and re-rolled like this, and worse ?????

It is good to know what to expect. If you are lucky you'll get a mouthful of floorboard. If you are unlucky, you will get a ship's battery between the ears.

Rockter.
.

smackdaddy · #2 (**permalink**) 01-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockter

Educational : capsizing in flat calm....

Yachting Monthly's Crash Test Boat Capsize - YouTube

Damn it guys, what must it be like with the sea running at you too, mast gone and repeated capsizes?

We sailed our ship right across the North Atlantic, and she rarely put the rail down. It was wet, lots of times, and there was the occasional rogue wave, and I ended up sitting in water up to my waist a few times, but the thought of getting rolled, and re-rolled like this, and worse ?????

It is good to know what to expect. If you are lucky you'll get a mouthful of floorboard. If you are unlucky, you will get a ship's battery between the ears.

Rockter.
.

This is one of the best series ever. Lots of great things to learn. Did you take a look at the others (holed, fire, CNG explosion, etc.)?

Rockter · #3 (**permalink**) 01-07-2012

Not yet.
I will.

jpqincny · #4 (**permalink**) 01-07-2012

This is an example of an environment (like flying) that is not inherently unsafe but on the other hand is not forgiving of mistakes or being ill prepared. While on the one hand this video may the first (?) deliberate test of capsizing, that doesn't forgive not giving serious thought to what should be done in various emergency situations. Not only the participants but also the organizers of an event such as the Fastnet should have a good grasp of the history of successful outcomes in the event of an emergency. The ocean is big and possesed of unimaginable power. I have talked with sailors who served in American nuclear powered aircraft carriers who have seen green water on the flight deck as far aft as the island. That is solid water flowing more than 50% down the length of a deck that normaly is 60 to 70 feet above the water. A telling remark made in the video was that panic was understandable in the circumstance. It might be understandable but it's not acceptable as 15 deaths attest.

therapy23 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-08-2012

And that boat had lockers etc pinned shut.

A "normal" boat would fare much worse I suppose.

mikieg · #6 (**permalink**) 01-08-2012

those vids were very informative. i hated to see them destroy that boat tho. what kind of boat was it? and why didnt they get an old junker to tear up?

jpqincny · #7 (**permalink**) 01-08-2012

Therapy, good point, it reminded me of securing for sea like we taught new sailors in the Navy to do. One of the demos I would do is take a ballpoint pen and while talking about the hazards of unsecured gear I would say, "when the ship rolls gear doesn't fall on the deck it does this" and then I'd whip it across the space into the bulkhead. I think that zip locking books, pinning lockers and putting things away where they can't come loose is an idea that needs more attention on small vessels. In addition, dessicant in containers and using WD-40 is a good idea. Another really good product is LPS, it's a water displacer like WD-40 but also an electrical insulator, lubricant and rust preventitive.

GaryHLucas · #8 (**permalink**) 01-08-2012

Great video!
Three years ago when I purchased my boat down in the Chesapeake I met a doctor and his wife. He had an almost new Catalina 37 and invited me on board. We were sitting there talking boats and I mentioned that my boat was considered unsinkable. His wife said "How could our boat ever sink?" I pointed out that there are lots of holes in boat hulls, any one of which can sink you. Then I said that my idea of an offshore boat is one that when I really want my mommy I could just go below and strap myself in and wait for it all to just stop. Then I suggested trying a little thought experiment that I do in my head. Sit in your boat and picture it rolling completely over, very slowly. Imagine what happens to everything in front of you, everything you have stowed, and yourself. Now picture it happening again, but very fast like what would actually happen in a real knockdown. When you are confident that the result won't be really bad, then your boat is ready to go offshore.

After watching this video the idea of a sailing helmet suddenly seems a lot more practical, despite that fact that real men don't wear helmets. My boat is an Etap 26, 100% foam flotation, no bilge pumps either. It occurs to me now that every compartment on my boat has a door that latches closed. All the cockpit lockers have ropes and cleats that secure them very well. There is only a couple of very small shelves that could contain only small loose items. I think I appreciate the design a lot more now.

Gary H. Lucas

Minnewaska · #9 (**permalink**) 01-08-2012

Yachting Monthly crash tet series is excellent. I particularly liked the ones on holing the hull and broken seacocks, both of which are real posibilities for any sailor.

I don't think the boat was a junker, I think I was acquired for the purpose and junked in test after test.

As far as capsizing, that vid makes it pretty clear why ocean race inspections require everything to be buttoned down. Everything.