Capsized My 26X
Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 1:09 pm
My boat may be ruined. 
Insurance adjuster is looking at it today. I will post pics as soon as I get them electronically.
Went sailing with my brother and his friend on Sunday. No wind. We motored to the local Tiki Bar listened to the band and went home. We went sailing again on Labor Day. There wasn't much wind so we motored out to a very large party in Lake Murray (SC). As soon as we got there the wind picked up. We put up our sails and started heading back towards our berth because the wind was on the edge of a storm. The wind was not strong enough to give concern. (Brand new wind instrument in box not installed on boat) The boat was behaving strangely and was sort of sluggish. We were healing to starboard but not going very fast and the helm was somewhat non-responsive.
All of a sudden the wind switched 180 degrees and knocked the boat down on the port side. The boat came up immediately and then was knocked down on the starboard side. This time-- she did not get up all the way. We were taking in water from starboard aft. We rolled in the head sail and my sailing partner was headed up to get the main when I saw water up to the table below. We grabbed pfds and just crawled to the high side. She rolled over. Mast pointing down at about 4:00.
The companion way hatch came off and was floating away. A motor boat picked us up. It took SeaTow 17 hours 2 boats and 2 divers to get the boat in. It is a real mess.
Insurance adjuster is looking at it today. I will post pics as soon as I get them electronically. Went sailing with my brother and his friend on Sunday. No wind. We motored to the local Tiki Bar listened to the band and went home. We went sailing again on Labor Day. There wasn't much wind so we motored out to a very large party in Lake Murray (SC). As soon as we got there the wind picked up. We put up our sails and started heading back towards our berth because the wind was on the edge of a storm. The wind was not strong enough to give concern. (Brand new wind instrument in box not installed on boat) The boat was behaving strangely and was sort of sluggish. We were healing to starboard but not going very fast and the helm was somewhat non-responsive.
All of a sudden the wind switched 180 degrees and knocked the boat down on the port side. The boat came up immediately and then was knocked down on the starboard side. This time-- she did not get up all the way. We were taking in water from starboard aft. We rolled in the head sail and my sailing partner was headed up to get the main when I saw water up to the table below. We grabbed pfds and just crawled to the high side. She rolled over. Mast pointing down at about 4:00.
The companion way hatch came off and was floating away. A motor boat picked us up. It took SeaTow 17 hours 2 boats and 2 divers to get the boat in. It is a real mess.
