1.) You say to tie the righting line onto the mast. Doesn't that mean that the righting line from the rescue boat has to be tied onto the mast post (the rod that holds the mast ball)? And that puppy is now under water, right? 2.) To do this, I've got to hold my breath, dive under the tramp, tie on the righting line to the mast post, and then loosen both downhaul lines, swim aft and uncleat both the traveler and the main sheet. I hope the water isn't forty degrees.
If the boat is turtled, simply stand on the bottom of the trampoline, reach around the front beam (only your hands need go below the surface of the water) and tie the tow line to the mast post now on the bottom of the front beam. We usually leave our righting line always attached to the mast post anyway.
3.) Then I take the submerged, secured line, and throw it forward, up and over the dolphin striker and let it flop onto the bottom of the tramp (now facing upwards). 4.) Then I swim around to the stern, grab the line, pulling it tight and position it, midway bewteen the two hulls with their upward pointing dagger boards and rudders. 5.) Then I clamber up out of the water and stand on the end most part of one of the hulls to assist the rear of the boat to sink as much as possible (which on my boat will be a zero response). 6.) I suppose to help keep my balance I can steady myself with the righting line, by then held taut by the rescue vessel, while the boat very slowly applies power. Is this is all correct so far?
Actually, I would probably get the hell out of the way while the rescue boat tries to right the catamaran - either by getting ON the rescue boat or jumping into the water and getting at least a boat length away along side. You do NOT need to submerge the sterns. The sails, now underwater, will provide plenty of resistance and cause the boat to pivot upwards. Be sure the rescue boat goes very slowly - it will not take much effort or speed to right the boat.
Question: Assuming my spinnaker is snuffed when the boat turtles and the only sail up is the main, then for the life of me I can't see why my main sail would ever have any stress on it at all, nor ever "catch water" because the leading edge moving through the water will be the mast itself with the luff firmly locked in the sail track, and the leach flowing straight out behind. The sail will not only never fill, it should slice through the water like a knife--right? And the dagger boards and rudders pose no problem as to preventing the cat from slipping sideways in the water if it needs too, because as the boat begins to raise its' mast it must at some point stop moving forward and begin to pivot on the stern of one of the hulls; at that point the mast will begin to lay over onto its' side more and more as it continues to rise to the surface causing the boat also to begin to tip over on its' side--which is where we want it. Does that all square with what your telling us?
Actually, the sails will resist the motion provided by the resuce boat and will probalby be out to the side as the boat tries to pull the catamaran backwards through the water. The sails provide the initial resistance through the water until they are free from the water. Then the sterns will submerge enough to provide the resistance to pull the boat the rest of the way upright.
A problem comes to mind at this point. It occurs to me that the rescue boat, must as it pulls, keep the righting line absolutely centered between both hulls or the line will move to one side and the cat may start to skid across the water, instead of comming up on its' side. What do you guys think?
This is a distinct possibility. The rescue boat will need to maneuver slowly and reactively to keep the line centered in the hulls. They will also need to pay attention to the direction of the wind so that there are no surprises once the catamaran is righted.
Really though, all this is a mute point for an I17. As long as your mast is sealed, there is no reason you would need outside assistance to right the turtled boat. If it's turtled, get your righting line and sit on and lean out on the most downwind corner of the hull (whether it is bow or stern). After a few seconds the air in the mast combined with your offset weight will make it want to rise and the boat will, slowly at first, popup to a position on it's side. Then you just right it as normal.
