Been there, done that!
In the two instances was after racing, running home (both times 5 hour
of sailing), crew relaxing with beers, helmsman being not that
experienced. Each time dug the pole into the ocean. First time bent the
pole's closing pin at the mast and bent the mast fitting, both had to be
replaced. Second time we did it, the pole slammed down on the life
lines to the extend that it pulled the aft pulpit out of the deck
fittings on the port side, almost lost the #1 genny and the crewman
lying on it overboard and also put solid water into the cockpit. For a
reason I do not understand the that helmsman never sailed with us again
(his choice).
Don Kern
Fireball C&C35 Mk2
Bristol, RI
On 12/7/2018 4:32 PM, Dennis C. via CnC-List wrote:
Our rule to minimize the possibility of a death roll is to NEVER, EVER
let the center seam of the chute be to windward of the forestay in
heavy breeze. That's on the guy trimmer. It's one of the few things
one can do on Touche' where you get yelled at by me.
Ease the pole forward so the center seam is 1-2 feet to leeward of the
forestay. If the boat starts to heel to windward, ease the pole more
and trim the chute IN, not out. Pulling the chute behind the main will
lessen the chance of a death roll. Unfortunately, the natural
tendency of most trimmers is to ease or release a sail in such a
situation. If the chute is eased, it will swing further to windward
and drag the boat down into a death roll. Bad, bad scene.
For non-racers, death rolls are scary bad. They can occur when
sailing dead downwind with the chute poled out. The boat can become
unstable and start into a "windshield wiper" oscillation. If extreme,
the boat heels well to windward and the pole enters the water. The
speed of the boat can snap the pole's bridle or downhaul and the pole
will pivot into the shrouds. It can bring the rig down.
Dennis C.
Touche' 35-1 #83
Mandeville, LA
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