Masthead buoyancy

Originally posted by jpbuzz591 Originally posted by carshalton fc i think they were having u on. that is about 20 large coke bottle's!  were i work we have the crewsaver bouancy bags (looks like a cheesy watsit) they will stop masts inverting! Well according to the RYA's entrapment thingy,    "30–40 litres of air at the masthead appeared to prevent inversions in a range of boats and conditions during trials, with no evidence of masts breaking. The impact on sailing performance is minimal for basic training and coaching. Undoubtedly significantly less buoyancy would be effective in many boats, but a fast windward capsize can result in very rapid inversions. 20 litres was insufficient on many classes." Quoted from RYA.

i think that must be rubbish. a 4000 mast which must be the heavest mast ever made wont invert with 4 letres or bouancy on it!!

Some things not mentioned in the other posts. Buy a non-legal oppie buoyancy bag from Northampton sailboats (£10ish)and put it in a canvass bag (i.e. old sail bag cut down and resown or similar improvisation using rope and gaffer tape).

Attach bouancy to mast with a short length of rope so the mast tip is about 300mm under the water (wind can't get under and blow you upright unexpectedly if you capsize to windward (it also reduces the risk of tangles).

Only disadvantage is if you let go of boat it will blow away from you faster and won't eventually stop when it turtles. Masthead buoyancy makes entrapement less likely, training easier and you don't bend the mast.



Edited by Garry

There's no need to swim under the boat, even fully turtled. You just need to stretch out a bit and count 3 clicks: One - Outhaul, Two - Cunningham, Three - Kicker, uncleat everything. Trust my recent but repeated experience, it works!

Originally posted by BBSCFaithfull Smod etc etc Oh no ive turned into a dev sailor hee hee

yer u sado!!  u just cant handle the speed of the 4k!  

how much bouancy do you think the inter 14mast would need???

You tie them to the main halyard. Bouyancy works really well and makes training much easier. Its not only the weight of the mast but also the windage from the hull - plus with beginners their weight hanging off the rigging or high toestrap inside the boat.

Releasing the kicker etc from an inverted contender is possibler because its a trapeze SH but it would be much more difficult on Lark, Stratos, Feva, Topaz or Laser and I expect also on many other classes.