The boat on its side in the Solent

[kmclemore]

Seems like it would be a pain to haul down the main...wouldn't most sailors just release the main sheet?

That would work, to some extent, but remember that the main will lay flat on top of the water, and that being full of water and quite heavy it will greatly inhibit roll-back of the boat. Remember also, it's not the bit near the boat that's the issue... it's that bit out at the top of the mast - that's where the leverage is the greatest. Hauling it down makes roll-back a lot easier.

[kmclemore]

I would think if there was a way to make the hatch cover & companionway door watertight you could last a long time without having the cabin filling up and even then the flotation would keep her from going to the bottom.

As long as you don't mess with the Styrofoam, the Mac will never sink and the cabin will never fill up entirely with water - there should always be at least some air - the only real danger is if she turns turtle, and that can indeed be dangerous. And I've yet to hear of one breaking up in open water in foul weather. I've only ever seen one break up at the dock (hurricane damage), and even that one didn't entirely sink.

[SkiDeep2001]

You dont really need to have a hatch or companionway that is tight sealed.

I understand Scott, but I was thinking more of a non righting situation and rescue not happening in a timely manner. Rob

[SkiDeep2001]

my wife tells me, "if I knew the worst case scenario, I would stay home, just tell me the dangers on a need to know basis". So, I will not be showing her these photos.

Windchime/Darry, I do realize that sometimes "out of sight, out of mind" is the best policy. Rob

[Wind Chime]

my wife tells me, "if I knew the worst case scenario, I would stay home, just tell me the dangers on a need to know basis". So, I will not be showing her these photos.

Windchime/Darry, I do realize that sometimes "out of sight, out of mind" is the best policy. Rob

Agreed. I learned this the hard way. A few years back, we were making a 3 hours passage across the straight to the Gulf Islands. In my enthusiasm, I outlined all the danges we might encounter so she would be prepared. Needless to say, none of them appeared. When we arrived at the destination she was a nervous wreck from white-knuckling the whole way, afraid of what "might" happen.

[Compromise]

I agree with some of the earlier posts, it looks like the swing keel was not down but the rudders were. It looks to me like his COG was off with the sails up and she went over.

This almost happened to me this past weekend. Out for a nice afternoon sail with my daughter as crew, 10-15 knot winds, main and Genoa partially furled. Heeling in the 25-30 range most of the time. In the midst of a strong gust I watched the inclinometer hit 40-45. I was pushing it a little and assumed the boat would round up any minute. I got nervous when it continued to heel beyond my comfort zone and never felt like it was going to round up. I turned into the wind and furled the Genoa. We continued to sail with the main only with about 15 degree heels, my daughter and I later laughed the event off and talked about how exilerating sailing can be . It was only when turning into my marina where the depth can go down to 3.5 to 4 ft when I went to pull the center board up that I realized how close we came to capsizing. I had inadvertanly never released it down before I raised the sails. I only had about 1ft of board down.
Glad we made it back without getting wet!

[daydreamerbob]

I feel pretty good about this picture - why shouldn't I? Regardless of how this guy got in a bind - not only didn't he sink - but he didn't roll over either - how cool is that?

[Indulgence]

Compromise,
I did the same thing, completely forgot to drop the centerboard once.
Coincidentally I was sailing with my daughter as well. There's something
inexplicably nice about Dad and daughter out for a day on the water.

The thing is- all that happened was the boat made a lot of leeway. It didn't heel any more than usual.
My understanding of the way things work is the centerboard offsets force from the sails to create forward motion
but has little to do with how far the boat heels. I'm sure the inertia of the centerboard keeps the boat from
heeling as quickly. Your post makes me wonder if you were a little shy of ballast; that's what keeps her upright.

Now. Everybody chime in and correct me ....
!
Laurie

[Clemo]

Tks for your thoughts. 38 replies, all over the world, in 12 hours. Doesn't this beat "waiting till the next club meeting to have a discussion"!!

I too have been impressed by the boats floating ability as seen in the later pics.

I wondered about the outboard being heavy and pulling the stern down. Clearly, didn't happen. The OB is not even in the water!!! (Get her up on her feet and the OB should take her home.)

As she is floating, viewed from the stern, she is floating with the companionway high & dry. The polystyrene isn't working yet. The integrity of the hull design is saving the day.

I'm sure that she could be righted. With no water below in cabin. I wouldn't abandon her in that state.

I realise though, that I don't sail in high latitudes. I don't know how cold and miserable the poor skipper was.

All thanks to Roger and his design team.

And lesson learned. Use your check list before you cast off, and keep the balast full.

Tks again,
C ya.

[bubba]

We sail in the Puget Sound at 53 deg's F and in a breeze hipo. will set in quickly. About 5 mintes and your fingers are numb. Keep the dingy handy always.

[Moe]

The boat in the pictures above is obviously full of air, not water. This is what a 26X that has been holed and taken on water looks like (Hurricane Katrina):



A LOT less boat (and no motor) above the water (ballast tank probably full and thus neutrally buoyant). There's very little floatation toward the stern (under the cockpit coamings) and with the boat on its side, only half of that is submerged and in effect. Motor weight (50 HP Yamaha in this case) prevails.

I'm curious why the subject boat is only over on its side and not completely turtled. Perhaps the owner put pool noodles in the top of the mast like we did to our 26X?

Finally, I agree with John on the chines looking too hard for a 26X. Maybe... but maybe a Mac clone?

[Clemo]

Thanks 4 that Moe. Thats what I would expect of a boat full of water. Clearly the original is floating on the integrity of the hull design. And the companion way is dry.

I wonder if there were a couple of batteries secured down below and some fresh water, providing extra balast.

I'm not happy with the hard chines on the boat. But Mac or not, the lesson is there for all sailers of water balasted boats.

Pool noodles inside the mast eh? No internal halyards then?

I should have thanked Heath for this web site earlier.

I can't imagine an inteligent discussion of this thread on any other web site.

Tks again.

[PhilEOD]

Hi Everyone,

Having always looked on this site for invaluable information I came across this discussion, being here in the UK this was the first I had even seen of this and there certainly isn't anything on the UK Mac owners site. I have posted a notice on the UK's site asking if anyone can enlighten me on this event. I will keep you all posted as soon as I know anything.

Phil Hammond.

[bubba]

I saw the very very hard chine on the UK boat and it looked like it is painted simular to the Mac X , Maybe a decoy.

[Russ]

I'd love to hear more direct facts about this, but here's my opinion of what happened.
They guy didn't fill his ballast fully then went motor boating. After a quick turn with rudders down it all sloshed to one side and turned him on his side. The partially filled ballast kept it on its side. The skipper hanging on the rigging probably also kept it from righting. I have to believe that he could have righted this boat by standing on the centerboard or even the motor to pull it back up.
I see no way this would have stayed in this position had ballast been full. I'm thinking he panicked when it went over and climbed to high ground, the rigging, and waited for help and without proper ballast it kept it on it's side.

I think the only way ballast would help right this boat is if it were pumped above where the water line level is (into the port chamber of this boat).


--Russ