Righting Device
by David Batchelor (Flying Scott Sailor)
I heard there was a problem
when righting a Lightning last weekend and I wanted to share the instructions I
wrote for the proper usage of the device. Unfortunately we did not have a
website or other means for sharing this information in the past and many have
never seen it in use. I developed the device in 1971 and the club has
always used them but it's been difficult to communicate with all members in the
past. Please review the first page very carefully. Print it out and
study until you understand that it's all about using your mast as a long lever
to raise the mast to the surface when turtled.
NOTE These caveats:
-
Never attach the device to the shroud of a boat with
spreaders. Just think about pulling in the middle of a
bow-&-arrow and remember how easily the bow bends. That could be the
mast if not pulling from the attachment point where there is a shroud on the
opposite side.
-
Attach the device to backstay of Lightnings. This means you are
pulling against an section of mast NOT supported from the side.
-
Hand hold the line when pulling against the backstay. Use only a single wrap around the
railing when pulling against the shrouds
-
Ease all sails so that you are not moving water as you rotate the boat.
It's like trying to reel in a blue marlin.
-
Be sure you understand where and how the loads will affect the boat before applying pressure with the motor boat.
