I took out my recently completed Skerry (lug rig) for the fourth time today. In two previous outings, the rudder kept popping off. I adjusted the bracket keeping the rudder in place, and that problem now seems solved.
However, I capsized today. I will skip some of the dramatic details, but basically, there was a gust, I heeled leeward pretty far, water started coming in, and I was unable to right the boat in time (due to distractions from the dramatic details that I skipped).
I managed to get the boat, and all the detachable pieces, back to shore, with the help of a couple of boats that happened to be in the area, and my daughter towing my capsized boat behind a jet ski.
At least the rudder didn’t pop off.
I have questions about how to avoid and deal with such disasters.
This isn’t the first time I’ve taken on water. The first time, I let out the sail, the boat righted, and I continued with my day. As mentioned above, this time I wasn’t so nimble, water came in, and I capsized. But I’m doing something wrong. Other than being more careful, and going slower, how can I avoid heeling? The shape of the Skerry seems to be a contributing factor – water comes in at the middle of the boat, where the gunwale is lowest.
What do I do following a capsize? Based on this one experience, it is not possible to continue sailing a Skerry following a capsize. What are my options other than having my daughter tow me home behind a jet ski?
Although, could be a bit of truth to it. I have to say, I’ve never capsized my skerry and the closest I’ve come was jibing in gusty conditions, not upwind. And I’ve had it out in open water with wind and wave (Chesapeake Bay and Fishers Island Sound for two).
So, upwind, never tie off the mainsheet in a breeze. Yes it’s a bit hard on the hand, but that’s why I upgraded the mainsheet tackle to a Harken ratchet block. Let go the mainsheet when it starts getting bad. Also, get a secure spot in the bottom of the boat with your feet braced so you are steady in position. And really honk down on the downhaul to tension the luff (leading edge) of the sail. I replaced the single part downhaul right away with a couple of blocks to get a 3 part tackle for more mechanical advantage when tensioning.
Learn to feel the rudder when it starts to load up in a gust and let the boat come up into the wind some. Gust loading happens fast in a small craft that is this light.
And last, yeah, reef. But do it early before you really need to. Unless you’ve gotten clever with the reefing lines and rigging, reefing is easiest done in this boat by dropping sail, tying in the reef, then rehoisting. This is such a light and easily driven boat that the full lugsail is really not needed once you’ve got more than 10 knots apparent wind speed.
Sorry. I did not mean to be so blunt. When I was a kid my very first sailboat was a snark. No way to reef the sail. It seemed like I always had too much wind or not enough. I capsized it a LOT. But it was made entirely of foam so easy to right and reboard. I would have given anything to have a Skerry in those days.
