Recovering From A Capsize
The PDRacer is a very stable boat, both when sailing, AND when the hull is completely inverted.
Recovering from a capsize can be difficult unless you know how to do it and have practiced.
With practice and good techniques, a capsize becomes an inconvienence rather than an emergency situation.
Further more, if you are good at recovering, you can push your boat closer to the edge while sailing, which seems to be the reason that the more experience a sailor you are, the more likely you are to knocking your boat over.
Mast Stuck In Mud
Most of the masts on the PDRacers seem to be in the 12' to 16' size range, the water we sail in is often only 6 or so feet deep.
If you turtle your boat in shallow water like that, the mast could become stuck in the mud.
Further more, as wind and waves push at your capsized boat, the mast will get pushed into the mud even more.
If this happens, you will need to totally unstep your mast to be able to recover your boat.
In some cases, you can swim your boat around so that the hull is down wind and the mud will release your mast, but in many cases it will just snap off.
Release Sails
When your mast and sails hit the water, the sails will submerge under water.
If the main sheet is tight, the sail will act like a large scoop so when you try to right your hull, you will be pulling against all that water too.
You should release the sheets so the sail can turn and release all that water, or possibly you should remove your sail.
Konk On Head WARNING!!
Below are techniques to get the boat upright again.
As the hull turns, just past when the hull is sideways in the water, it will start to fall upright very quickly.
If you are in it's path, it will konk you on the head with great force.
One good technique is to place your spare hand on the hull as it turns over, or hold your hand in the air so that as it falls, you can sort of "catch" it.
The force of the falling hull will push you underwater, even wearing a life jacket, so be ready for it.
Pull On Board
If you have a leeboard, daggerboard or centerboard, you can grab it and lean back to get the leverage to rotate the hull.
Pull On Rope
If you have elephant ear type leeboards or for some reason your leeboard broke off, you will have to rig a rope over the hull.
Thru the oar lock socket is a great place to put the rope, then from the other side you can lean back to get the leverage to start rotating your hull.
Mast Head Float
A mast head float is a great thing - what it does is keep your boat from going over more than 90 degrees.
You can do something as simple as tie a chlorox bottle up there, or a boat fender.
If you capsize your boat without one, you might be able to pull up the mast with a halyard, then tie a boat cushion to it.
With boat on it's side, you can crawl up the skids like a ladder and easily pull the boat upright.
Climbing Back Aboard
Now that your boat is floating upright again, you will discover how difficult it is to climb back aboard in deep water.
Some people have the upper body strength to lift themselves up, when I do it, I look a lot like a walrus moving up a beach.
Some people put notches and steps in their rudder, or carry ladders which work very well.
A simple solution is a loop of rope, if you tie it at the right height, it works like a step.
The problem is that as you step on it, your foot will swing underneath the boat, so it takes a bit of balance and coordination to do it right.
Bail The Water Out
It has been said many times that the best water pump is a scared sailor with a bucket.
The best device I have found for bailing PDRacers is a chlorox bottle that has the bottom cut off.
Using a swooshing motion that flings the water, I can bail 30 gallons a minute.
Tie the handle to your boat so it won't float away when you capsize.
Furthest to the right in the photo is Ken Abrahams's picante bailer (a bottomless plastic salsa bottle).
Practice, practice, practice...
Capsizing your boat on purpose is a lot of fun, please practice so you can acquire the skills before you capsize unexpectantly.
It it not a matter of if, but just a matter of when.
Pull On Board
Pull On Rope
Mast Head Float
Bail The Water Out