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You'd better hope you capsize!
Yesterday the winds on my lake were in the 10 - 20 range and it was hot. At one point I decided to drop my sail and take a swim. Fortunately, I also decided to keep a good grip on the attached main sheet when I jumped over the side.
It's amazing how fast the Northeaster Dory can drift downwind in those conditions! With the sail up it might drift away even faster -- unless you are lucky enough to have it round into the wind.
I'd much rather have a capsized boat full of water than a free-floating boat that drifts away faster than I can swim!
Note to myself: Wear that PFD!
2 replies:
RE: You'd better hope you capsize!
All that sailing/rowing efficiency translates directly to it being able to scoot away from you amazingly fast. The other day on Greenlake, my EP started to escape with the main luffing. I was just able to grab it in time before it fetched up on the "dam". That's exactly why I have 30' of polypropylene double braid as a painter lark's headed onto the front grab handle.
RE: You'd better hope you capsize!
» Submitted by Grumpy - Sat, 6/25/16 » 3:40 PM
If I were to leave the sails up I'd p.....well........ I wouldn't do that. But if you did letting the main sheet run, ie not cleated or held by the swimmer, will keep it from bringing in the sail and sailing off under a reach. Having a weather helm also helps.
On swim breaks I usually anchored or left someone onboard. When swimming in current I'd stream a line aft of the boat with a fender attached to keep the bitter end floating and easier to grab onto and hang onto.