I've pitchpoled my ARC 22 twice in 3 years. The first time was just plain high winds. We had just taken the spinnaker down (great insight on the skipper's and crew's part), because it was really starting blow and we were, well, nervous. Then a big puff hit and we did this slow motion end over end. I was hanging onto the rear crossbeam as we went over. The second time was really ugly and I take full responsibility for that one. We were rounding the windward mark, double trapped going about 14 knots upwind, as I started to bear off around the mark without easing off. You got it, double trapped right into a beam reach flying a hull, and both skipper and crew were catapulted off as we went from 18-20 knots to zero. The ugly part was that we were thrown so far from the boat that we couldn't catch it, before it sailed away on its side. Yes, we had on life jackets. We were then rescued by the chase boat and dropped back into the water downwind of the boat so we could get back on and right it.

Hey Rolf, Pitchpoled a Tornado? Like this?

http://community.webshots.com/mypho...mp;photoID=126648664&security=ttuagG