When you first go into the water, check that you are not caught up on any loose ropes and

make sure that the mainsheet is fully slack, which will mean that the mainsail flaps when

the boat is pulled upright. Next swim to the rear of the boat, this will ensure that you

do not get trapped under the hull should it invert.

And while you’re there check the rudder hasn’t fallen off, if it has, refit it.

If you feel the boat rolling on top of you, you need to swim clear and let the boat settle.

If however you do get trapped under the boat then you need to take a deep breath and bob

out from underneath the upturned hull.

In this example the boat has fully inverted. To make it easier you need to swim to the

centreboard in preparation to right the boat. To increase leverage try to get out of the

water by climbing on the lip of the upturned hull and grab hold of the centreboard. If

the centreboard has slid back inside the boat, simply grab it and fully extend it like this.

This provides greater leverage to right the boat. But be careful not to damage the trailing

edge of the centreboard as this is a thin edge and is delicate and very easily damaged.

Now you just need to lean back, there’s no need to strain here as a gentle and sustained

pressure will suffice and is the key to an effective capsize procedure.

Slowly the boat will adopt the flat capsize position, which, when reached you need to

apply all your weight to the top of the centreboard and push down. Surface tension of the sail

on the water may need you to apply a quick pump to break the seal, which when happens

the boat will right quickly.

Once the boat is upright you can then clamber aboard.

Do not climb in under the boom as it is likely that the extra weight of you under the boom

will pull the boat over once more so you should swim to the opposite side of the boom and

climb in from there. To help you, grab the toe straps for extra leverage. Once aboard

be careful to keep your head clear of the flapping sail and boom. Sort out all the ropes

and make sure nothing is tangled and open any drainage points and start sailing.

As you get more proficient and more experienced it is possible to right the boat without actually

getting wet this is called a dry capsize and here’s how. As the boat flips over, if you

are quick, you can end up sitting on the uppermost side of the boat, you can then quickly step

over the boat and stand on the centreboard. Using your weight lean on the centreboard

to pull the boat back upright. As the boat rights itself step back over the side back

into the cockpit and keep yourself dry. As before you can then sort out all the ropes

and making sure nothing is tangled, open any drainage points and start sailing.

During the capsize process you may have become stuck in the middle of the no go zone and

be unable to sail away. This is called being stuck in irons. If this happens simply push

the boom well out to one side and steer the boat backwards away from the no go zone. See

our First Sail video for more details on this.