boat capsized - 3 children dead

[Miss_Dallie]

Wow.

Somewhere around the first of July we had a discussion here on this board about overloading the MAC. Some where talking about going out with 10-12 souls on board in various combinations of adults and children. I personally have drawn the limit of souls I will take out on the MAC; four adults and two children MAX, preferrably no children. I'm not a hater of kids, mine are in there mid thirties and I have two grandkids (preteens). I'm just saying kids are not easily controled when a) they aren't your children and b) they are excited. In no way will I take 6 adults out on the MAC, the cockpit is just too small.

I pray that those board members who I mentioned above and all other members who had a large number of souls on board their Mac are safe and had a good time with family and friends over the holiday.

Ron
Miss Dallie

[mastreb]

I've taken five adults and six kids out on a Mac (equal to eight adults weight wise) and I will confirm that it's certainly too many people to effectively control the boat under sail if a situation arises. Even with people low and evenly distributed on the bow, in the cabin, and in the cockpit, and with stern rail seats opening up two more positions, and with very well behaved kids, there are too many distractions, too many people moving around, and too many people who don't know how to sail under foot, sitting on lines, and not understanding instructions.

The boat actually sails very well under load if the load is low (i.e., in the cabin) and evenly distributed. It sails more like a keelboat under this circumstance, and with the added 1200 lbs. of human ballast the boat actually felt like it was in its groove. I didn't feel like weight or load was the problem, and I do forbid anyone from transiting bow to stern topside--cabin only unless you're handling sails.

The problem is in managing that many people while sailing, keeping lines and sheets under control and available, etc. I found myself heeling on purpose just to scare people to attention. Just one adult moving around suddenly topside can pull the boat off course by twenty degrees before you can correct.

So my new rule is no more than five people in the cockpit at once, and no more than eight people total. Capsize aside, it's just too big a crowd for safe sailing.

If you find yourself in a situation where you can't sail because of crowding or you've got an undiscipled or unruly crew, the safe answer is to drop sail and motor below hull speed back to the dock.

[kmclemore]

Well, the proper answer for the Mac (and for any boat) is the manufacturer's recommendation. For the Mac it is:

WHEN THE BALLAST TANK IS FULL:
- NO MORE THAN 6 PERSONS, 960 POUNDS.

WHEN THE BALLAST TANK IS EMPTY:
- NO MORE THAN 4 PERSON, OR 640 POUNDS.
- CREW WEIGHT CENTERED FROM SIDE TO SIDE.
- ALL SAILS REMOVED, ENGINE POWER ONLY.
- NO ONE ON THE CABIN TOP OR FORDECK.
- WAVES LESS THAN 1 FOOT.
- OPERATE WHERE WATER IS WARM AND RESCUE IS LIKELY.

[RobertB]

At the MUCK-About sail last weekend, leaving Hart-Miller Island we saw a roughly 30 foot powerboat with high bridge with about 2 dozen people on board. Seems some people do nto keep up on current events.

[DaveC426913]

The circumstances of that incident almost exactly describe my introduction to sailing 20 years ago. Inexperienced skipper, large boat with too many passengers, headed out for fireworks. Add an undersized anchor, far too few life jackets, a windy squall and booze, and we had the perfect mix for some deaths.

But we were lucky. A couple of people brought up their lunches and went to the hospital for dehydration, but no other injuries.