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Jim Harris's avatar

Thanks Richard. A point you make, that I would like to reinforce, it is easy to practice in calm water, but when it’s blowing 20+, with 2-3’ waves, things get far more difficult, just as the mast comes up, the wind catches it and blow it over onto you, and waves come over the rail, filling the boat you’re trying to bail. You get cold and tired. Getting back into the boat gets more difficult. Thinking ahead and having a plan to assist with each of these can change a life threatening situation into a simple self rescue.

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S P's avatar

Many excellent points, and I really appreciated the supporting materials as well. I don't think explaining Free Surface Effect basics requires math, though.

Imagine everything heavy in your boat is in a barrel that's free to roll sideways across the deck or bottom. If you've been on a sailboat with crew serving as moving ballast on the high / windward side, picture them on roller skates. Every time the boat heels, the barrel or skaters roll to the low side, tending to immerse the rail and/or capsize the boat. You can use obstacles to lessen the effect by splitting them up and keeping them from rolling as far. Water responds to gravity (and baffles) much the same way.

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