While I don't agree with the title Rick chose for this thread ("cool video"), I do thank him for posting it and starting this discussion. I think even the more experienced among us can learn something from this (I know I am).

Please note that not once did I say they should have stayed home, or that I would have if I were there (although truthfully, since having kids, I do weigh risks differently now).

I also didn't criticize them for being inexperienced, because I have no idea of their experience level, and that situation could have happened to any of us. Some days, stuff just gets out of control.

With the exception of the separated gooseneck and lost crew, I've been through every scenario as this poor boat (including both having and being a separated crew).

The important thing (to me) is to point out the stuff that went wrong, and list ways to manage or (preferably) avoid it, which many folks are doing now.

I mentioned that I always carry a radio. This video is making me think about giving one to my crew as well. Not only could they call for help, but if separated, it is easier for them to see the boat than for someone on the boat to see them in the water. They could be calling back to the boat: "Yes, I see you, you need to turn left to get back to me..."

I have also been in the situation of the rudders flipped off the back after righting, also in heavy air (NOT fun). After righting, you have just about zero control. Sheeting in the main would get you closer to head-to-wind, but it's very difficult to reach the tiller arms without flipping backwards. It's amazing how fast a Hobie 16 will travel with the tillers flipped and the sails fully eased. It has never occurred to me to lock the rudders down while the boat was capsized.

I would love someone to test the sea anchor concept, scientifically, and post a video here. On a windy day, take a power boat (for taking video and picking up the crews if needed), two identical cats (one with a sea anchor, one without), flip them simultaneously near one another, and see if the sea anchor actually allows a crew to swim back to the boat.

In this case (intentionally or not), the skipper did a good job of keeping the boat from turtling when the crew was trapped. However, I think they got lucky, because it looked like he went to help her, based on the camera angle changes.

For those that don't know this, a Hobie 16 is fully capable of righting itself in these conditions. You can be bobbing in the water next to it when it happens. So, not only is it important to know how to right a boat, it is equally important to know how to stay in control of it when capsized. You need to know how to turtle on purpose, to keep from turtling, to right it, to keep it from righting. I don't think enough people practice all of these skills.

Mike

PS: Yes, the sail number was one of the first things I noticed, and did appreciate the irony.

EDIT: It's hard to tell from the video, but it almost looked like the leeward rudder kicked up, starting the downward spiral that led to the first capsize. That could have been due to a bad cam tension adjustment, or from hitting something in the water. Did anyone else notice this?