I think after the third capsize I'd have sat on the upturned hull and taken some time to recover. He is close to panic, which is a recipe for drowning…he is breathing hard, almost hyperventilating….so it'd only take one big gulp and that'd be that. Drowning can happen so fast.
Glad to see you enjoy your cocktail as you watched him struggle. Great video of how things can go wrong if you don't pay attention to details. I'm glad he didn't get wrapped in any of the loose lines.
When I first got my Sunfish I sailed it from Wet Pants to Bellport & back - alone, no phone & no radio. A few weeks later I was sailing it at the Tuesday night races at Wet Pants and after a gybe the gooseneck broke and the sail & spars flew out like a kite. I had no control and the boat capsized. The committee boat was there for me but had that happened on my sail to Bellport a few weeks earlier I would have been in trouble. No more solo sails without a phone or radio.
Lee, tell me one thing. Whenever I see any dinghy videos from US, all of the American's seem to not know three main rules of sailing to avoid caping. When you feel that the boat is starting to lean too quickly and to degree which can be dangerous 1. You turn the boat into the wind line. 2. You loose immediately the main sail. 3. You do both. Whenever I see Sunfishes fall over, the main sales are tightly heaved. In addition no one tries to just turn into the wind direction. Why is that? Cheers from Europe.
Yep, just turn into the wind or let the sail out to de-power. I have sailed a Sunfish, had it up on its side basically, never capped. I have a Hobie 16 and I've not capsized it either. I also have a Super Snark which is a fun little boat, took it to the beach recently sailing in the gulf in Destin an didn't capsized it either. I used to sail a little Sea Snark right off the beach in Destin and I would have the boat so far over that water would be pouring in, I did it for fun and never capsized. Ya just have to know what you are doing, know your boat, and have a sense of "feeling" what the boat is doing. Happy Sails!!!!
Yeah I live in Pensacola. I've always shyed away from catamarans due to their size and tendency to capsize. Sunfish is small enough to handle by myself 👍@@martybrooke9638
Great commentary! Appreciate this information. I am retuning to sailing after many years of kayaking. Enjoying your videos. This was a great lesson on what and what not to do! Definitely need to be be leeward from the sail when recovering a flip. His lifeline saved him. Could have become much worse. Keeping calm...take a breath... see where the wind is coming from and head into it. He must have been exhausted by his third attempt to right his Sunfish.
Once I learned his inner hull had water in it I cut him some slack. We all get to learn from the mistakes of others. besides the obvious things mentioned, one thing I like to do to put the odds in my favor is sail upwind or up current whenever possible, that way if something bad happens the wind or current will take me home a lot easier.
My initial thought was: reef before you have to. Point the to the wind before you right the boat because you never know if the sheet is tangled and watching your ride leave without you is a terrifying sight. I also didn’t see anyone comment about running parallel to the wave crest. That’s an instant knockdown no matter what boat you’re in. At least that’s what they taught us in the sea scouts 40 years ago.
Good stuff Lee. Mike Fetcho from the club. Good refresher for start of season. Best advise - don't go out in weather you can't handle. I've done a lot of dumb things out there.
One doesnt always know what they cant handle, so then there is don’t sail without people around to be able to help…. Plus know your level of skill and stay close to safe and familiar water, especially if alone.
I just sailed for the second time by myself in my sunfish in 10 knot winds with 20 knot gusts and it was terrifying yesterday. It doesn't help that it's October and it was around 40° out. I did capsize but righted it quickly. I gave up after about 45 minutes of trying and decided I would wait for a calmer day. You should do a video on preferred wind conditions for the sunfish, it would be most helpful for an inexperienced sailor like myself. Thanks!
I had a similar experience with a windsurf. Sailing alone. Sailing an unfamiliar place. Little too late afternoon. Thermal shifty winds (end of the day, the wind pattern reverse). A fishing boat was passing at hailing distance but the shame made me keep trying. I talked to the sail, I begged her to let me handle her all the way back. The new direction implied going back to a different beach where I could see the waves breaking... but going back was the priority. Bravo for not loosing courage.
I had a similar but less severe experience on the Columbia River near Rufus Oregon. I didn’t go out as far and made the decision to turn back a lot sooner. Turns out that the Columbia is a lot different than Perdito Bay Florida 🤣. Now I’m looking forward to gearing up my old sunfish and learning in more favorable conditions!
When I was much younger I had a Super Porpoise (very similar to a sunfish). I didn't know much at all about sailing but I was a good enough swimmer and in very top shape. I would sail in all sorts of weather and had a blast. Now many years later at 69 and with stage 3 copd, I've picked up an old Glastron Alpha that I'm fixing up. I intend to go very, very slow, stay near shore and I won't even consider sailing if the wind is very strong; at least until I understand my limits. There are very few sailors near me so I won't have the benefit of others help. I have refreshed my knowledge and learned much more than I did before thanks to Lee Montes videos. Thanks Lee. I really appreciate the information you've shared.
My dad came home with a Glastron Alpha in 1968. Grew up sailing on a small lake in central Oklahoma. Great memories. I miss that boat. I hope you have it all fixed up & are having fun!
I remember watching this sunfish sailor’s video last year. I think he sails in Lake Superior which is around 59 gonna get hypothermia quickly degrees. Add that info to his beginning warning remarks.
@@LeeSideSailing that water would be deep and cold! I bought a waterlogged, 1960-62 (no serial number on it, but dating it from the faded logo), Alcort Sunfish. Cut some ports, dried it out, and have been sanding and sanding…almost ready for fiberglass patches. The boat’s for my daughter. Les, truly thank you for your teaching videos! I will definitely have my daughter watch them so she knows the correct rigging, knots, and all the great tips you explain. Thank you!
I'll take a positive view -- he gained good experience with elemental stress on the water, learned a lot of don'ts that he won't repeat, had a good day on the water and survived. I've been in similar fuckups and they're some of my best sailing memories. He had the good sense to use a lifeline.
Great videos! I'm glad I didn't watch this before I bought a 1976 Sunfish off a local guy for $240 (no trailer). I was looking for a small boat that I could carry in the back of my pickup, load and unload solo. I didn't realize a Sunfish can be such a wet and wild ride. I've yet to get it on the water. After getting it home, I discovered several holes along the keel by the bailer. It had been poorly repaired before. This damage seems to be very common from the other boats I've seen for sale. I've repairing the area and plan on painting the entire bottom. The deck polished out better than expected. The sail is pretty worn with many small holes that are now patched. I do want to get out on a local lake before the weather turns next month. I'm a very conservative 62 year old sailor with a Boston Whaler Harpoon 6.2 that I typically solo. It takes at least 30 minutes to rig before leaving my slip. It can be a handful when the wind kicks up.
Thanks steve!! Watch the weather! From 5-10 MpH. Usually one will be ok…. This sailor was in the mid to upper teens- challenging conditions for most people. :).
I learned on a Sunfish clone (Gulf Coast 13). Taught myself from a book the basics but it took some incidents like this to figure some things out. I began doing what I call a tack gybe. Where you tack all the way around to your next course. Before I learned this, I capsized once in a fairly shallow bay. The upper spar caught in the mud on the bottom of the little bay I was in and it was a bear to get the bow back into the wind. Then it was tough to right the boat due to the spar stuck in the mud. Luckily I'm a big guy so I finally got it to pop up and then it rained mud all over me. LOL. A teachable moment for sure.
I wouldn't say I'm an expert by any means, but with many years of sunfishing and daysailering in everything from a 12 to a 25... this guy definitely was in over his head. I went sailing on a day like this on a lake and it was spectacular. Beating upwind was a bit of a struggle (I think I'll be switching to Jens) Downwind surfing the waves was a blast. Thankful I had the drysuit on. Definitely good advice from Lee here. Don't push your limits too quickly.
I stumbled across that video a few days ago and was amazed he took off away from shore in such wind. You have to admire him for his guts, though. Lee your comments were outstanding as always. Shouldn't the halyard be first secured to a cleat on the base of the mast before running through the block on the deck? Otherwise that is a lot of load on the block, which will pull out when overloaded - been there. The life line is a good idea - never thought about that but I sure will in the future. BTW I am working on a mast bob for the Sunfish, which might have helped him when capsized.
Most people don’t use a mast cleat. Mast cleats are after market add one... they are not required, some high level racers don’t agree with using them. While others swear by them. A mast head bob would have prevented the turtling of the boat most definitely:).
@@ChrisWilliams-hq3vk Thanks Chris. I was referring to a separate cleat towards the bottom of the mast I have seen on some Sunfish. The halyard comes down from the top of the mast, is wrapped a few times around the cleat on the mast, then passes through the block on the deck and then finally (again) to a second cleat on the deck. One explanation was that the load on the halyard when sailing should be transferred to the mast and not the block. If Lee says this is not advisable, good enough for me.
If the wind is blowong off the shore, stay parallel by reaching back and forth and one must learn and know how to sail close hauled and to tack back and forth to bring you bacl to shore. He kept sailing down wind….
Luckily I sail on a small lake so I'm never far from shore, but we all have those "Oh crap" moments. When I was in college I was out sailing a hobby boat we'd picked up when I was a teenager and felt the rudder was "squishy." I quickly turned downwind (towards home) and looked to figure out what the problem was with the boat this time, only to see the rudder blade floating away 10 feet behind me. Luckily I was able to put all my weight on the transom and get it back to shore with what was left of the rudder and some creative jib work.
thank you for your video my friend , it was very helpfull. Im thinking to buy a sunflower snark . Do you know it? Do you suggest it for begginers? (I live in greece and aegean weather is always windy 4-5-6 . )
Sorry he got himself into that situation...but what a great education for the rest of us. I hadn't watched the video on my own. Am glad my first view was with you reacting to it. Seeing and hearing the repetition of do's and don'ts is invaluable. You don't learn as well from hearing or seeing something once.
@@LeeSideSailing your videos are ESSENTIAL!!! I bought my first sunfish yesterday. Raining today. Tomorrow will be the first sail ever. You got me as ready as i can be. Thank you.
@@LeeSideSailing thx. would never go out with wearing my PFD. First time out was anxiety-filled...a mix of good & confusion. Am sure each time out it will get better and smoother.
For the most part in a sunfish life lines are actually not recommend. I most of the time when the boat capsizes it stopped sailing and one could just hold onto the boat. Having a line attached to you may be more trouble than it potentially changes as you can get tangled up into it. Now to answer your question on what the seller did he probably had, 13 feet of line tied to himself I believe on his rest and to his hiking strap I believe. But again I don’t think a lifeline is recommended. Watch the weather, and if the conditions are forecasted to be a lot for you then wait for a better day. :)
Here is how the guy finished up, as described when he originally posted the video "Three capsizes, broken halyard shackle, lost paddle, lost bailing bucket, random rain-shower, and finally abandoned the beached dinghy. Walked across a mile of soggy marsh land and had to swim across a river onto dry land. So much fun! " He has 103,000 views so far, but Lee's is the better video to watch since it has advice included in it. And to emphasize, Sunfish do not have, and should not have, a halyard shackle!
Thanks Chris for the reply. I did add it out a few minutes of him just sailing straight as it got a little boring to watch. I appreciate your comments!!
None of my videos are monetized. My dog video has half a million views. I did recover U-123 four days later. I had hid the mast/boom and most of the rig where I ended up scuttling and the sailboard I picked up 6 miles away, it beached on a public park and was recovered. :)
Lee Montes - everything you said was SPOT ON! The first capsize was due to an INCOMPLETE - Failed tack (I’m use to real keelboats with more momentum) and I kept my sail tucked in while fiddling with the boat’s orientation, should have let the sail go. But here is the kicker, my coaming was not entirely water tight (through the screws) -so after the first capsize I had taken up tons of water in the hull. Was doomed to capsize again shortly. And the mast block broke when the mast scraped against some rock underneath while turtled. Yes the wind was about 18 knots when I launched but you can clearly see I was in a windshadow! I didn’t include the part where I was in center and it rained and lighting came down! (You can see the cloud front in the sky from the beginning )- In mid bay (red warning issued) it was easily 25+ knots -The best part of the journey was slipping off this crazy wave, literally surfing 🏄♂️ exceeding hull-speed. Sucks I didn’t record that, Go-Pro ran out of battery, but made the adventure worth it.
@@LeeSideSailing I was running downwind after the third and a half hour, with the sail raised 30% (yes my boom was ON THE DECK) , then this crazy brief 30 minute rain storm and 2 thunderbolts struck about 75 meters from me (that was insanely scary). I was warm but my fingers were numb. My favorite part was exceeding hull speed running with the wind and slipping off a large wave created by the Golden Gate Transit Shuttle Boat, who had reported sighting me to the Coast Guard on their return back to Frisco from Vallejo. They must have seen me resting and sitting on the hull and later one of the CG planes swept down right over me (a little late) since I was just about 100 meters away from beaching the sunfish. I never had to call Vessel Assist!!! Never had to "make that call" :)
This guy has a life line. Is this a must? Have to admit I've been sailing for like 8 years and never used one. l do sail on a small lake with plenty of boats around usually.
Had something similar happen on windsurfer in early 80s. In lee at the beach but wind building as I moved offshore. Wound up at about 15 gusting to 20kts. Exhausted myself attempting to beat back to beach. Ultimately had to derig the sail and paddle about 1 nm to get to shore. Very difficult paddling against the wind and almost ditched the rig. Very scary. Finally made it in. I was fit, brand new board and lots of experience but just lost track of distance and seduced by beautiful scene at the beach. If wind is blowing offshore and you are in a small boat, exercise extreme caution.
Steve. You can do it... but please be smart. Step by step. Learn the basics, and sail with others who know more when you’re can and learn. My friend Vito started to learn in his mid 60s. He figured out his limits over time and experiences. The fellow in the video, was over his head, too early in his sailing career. If you wanted to start mountain climbing, would you start on Mt Everest? You can sail at 60 plus- Small steps at first, safety first and enjoy the process :).
Sunfish is a fun little sailboard. Designed for PROTECTED WATERS , eg LAKES. It's best to be sailed (and most comfortable) in light to max 8-10 knot winds. Get one! They are cheap and easy to maintain. Just don't do what I did, unless you're an excellent swimmer and like to drink ocean water. :)
@@LeeSideSailing My friend Shawn can actually capsize and turtle ANY dinghy and NEVER get a drop of water on himself. With the "roll over technique". As the boat rolls over, he's already walking his way to the dagger-board. Dude is amazing. I asked him how he learned to do that and he says "Carlos, look dude, eventually you get tired of getting wet." His brother is an Olympic sailor. But you should expect to get wet in winds over 15 knots on any non-keeled/sailboard.
I did it and love it. Leaned most stuff from watching RUclips videos. Just be smart and learn to sail in calmer conditions and work your way up to stronger winds.
I took my sunfish out for the third time ever, first time this year. This video was strangely familiar. I think the forecast was about 14 mph . I guess i learned that's too much wind.
As you get more experienced you’ll be able to handle wind at the 14 mile an hour range however just learning in that wind the boat reacts exponentially quicker. Keep it up!
Great video critique for me to learn how to overcome beginner mistakes. I can't believe he didn't lash his paddle to the vessel. This is a lucky man... could've been worse.
This would’ve been me. Thanks for posting this video. I learned a lot, and have been in a similar situation where I realized I was in over my head and didn’t know how to get myself out of trouble. Could you comment on the life line? I know nothing about that; how to tie, what to tie to (both ends) etc. Thanks!!!
Well most of the time a life line is not needed as a sailboat usually will head up into the wind and not sail away too far. I don’t think many people would advocate for this is a ll boat. In his situation, he was exhausted so it helped him pull Himself to the boat…. He tied it to his wrist and them to a stationary part of the boat…. PFDs are mandatory on small sailboats at all times in my opinion.
This sailor made a series of serious mistakes. Lee, your comments on this video are spot on. I can see this kind of thing happening easily. Once he realized he was in wind beyond his capability, he should have at the very least stayed near shore, certainly not headed farther from shore. People, please don't leave shore until you know the knots. His upper spar knot should have been a clove hitch but was instead a loose loop and allowed the sail to dip down and be less controllable. His cleat knot allowed the sail to fall repeatedly. Not raising the sail to the top of the mast allowed the sail to be very full and less controllable, his pulling on the halyard behind the deck block could have ripped the block out of the deck and did add friction enough to not allow him to raise it high enough. He did persevere calmly, wore a PFD and had a lifeline attached to his wrist, so I'm wondering if this was a planned situation. Many experienced sailors would have loved the conditions, so it wasn't dangerous unless the sailor is inexperienced. Know your stuff, know your experience, know your limits.
Actually, a Rolling Hitch is better suited for attaching the halyard to the upper spar. It resists lateral movement so it stays in the intended position. Also moving the hitch higher or lower can help change the height of the sail for different conditions/purposes. Higher on the spar lowers the sail and generally better suited for racing or high performance, move the hitch lower (towards the mast) will help lift the boom up and is safer for new sailors or if sailing with more than one person.
He never made sure his lines were sorted to raise the sail... it was wrapped around the mast several times.. no wonder it was so hard to raise and fell right down. Even with the cleat not tied properly.. if the mast rotated at al it would drop several inches at least.. just a novice sailer here but.. I have never used a life line, I can see the advantages.. what would be the proper way to rig one?
Hi Jesse. You’re right about the wrapping and unraveling of the halyard around the mast. The rig would drop more. I actually haven’t rigged a lifeline when I sailed a Sunfish... he tied it around his wrist and looked like it was attached to his traveller/bridle. Not sure if that’s the best way, but it’s one way. Another could be to attach it to the end of your Mainsheet, with a proper knot. Like a sheet bend. Or the base of his mast? There was no hiking strap, that would have been another area to attach to.
This summer I snapped the mast of my 40 year old wooden optimist, that little sailboat was actually built by my grandfather when he wanted to teach my mother how to sail, but he hasn't had a sailboat so he built one. I made a new mast for it and it's like new now😀 But still this guy should've stopped right at the beginning, and avoided this entire lottery of failure.
Not knowing this guy's sailing history at all, all I can say is that maybe he should not have been out there in conditions like that if he wasn't experienced. I don't understand why he says, "No one is coming to get me." Dude, you have a paddle, so start paddling. You can not go out sailing solo with a mindset that "someone will come get me if things go sideways." You have to be self-reliant. Gain a little experience and then try it again. Good lessons here in what not to do. Learn from this and move on and you will become a better sailor.
You can reef a sunfish. Have to lower the head and secure the foot. All has to be done in land. Depending on your skills and what you like will determine the max wind speed... a good sunfish sailor can handle low to mid 20 mph winds with effort.... last masters midwinters in Tampa a month ago saw gusts coniute to the mid 30s... some broken spars on older boats.
I would have stayed close to shore. It did not look that bad until he got out further. I would have turned around. We are gusting 22 mph this evening for racing, and I’m not experienced enough to be comfortable, so I’m not going. I don’t want to be this guy. Lee, I’m going to catching up watching your channel today!
Experience is the best teacher, but also toy don’t want to get yoyrself in trouble getting that experience. Push yourself each time you go out, but never push TOO much…. In other words, dont run a marathon after only two weeks of training. Need to build up the knowledge gradually:). Have fun!
First, like a gun or a new motorcycle, I would take my boat seriously. I would learn all I can about my boat and practice my knots before I got in the water. I would pick a much more calm day for my first ride. I would stay close to shore in an unfamiliar boat. If the wind picked up too much I would spill more of it off the sail so that I can keep control. My destination when I'm finished would be to return to my starting point.
Great points! One thing i would add… While going dead downwind, sometimes its better to trim in too much, which. Depowers the sail. (You pinch the sail). Thanks !
Hi Lee, Thanks this was great. Have you seen the series of videos by the guy who goes camping , sailing his Sunfish on Lake Superior? Gear tied on the deck, etc. All alone, miles from anywhere. He does have an EPIRB etc. Not an experienced sailor but he knows not to go out in a blow. Jonathan Brush from Shelter Island
Always turn around and go back as you will have to tack . If unsure stay close to shoreline. Poor man didn't have enough experience to stop and do this sail another day. Constantly he predicted his doom.
He had absolutely no business going out. My personal best was sustained 32 mph breeze with gusts 41mph. It was a great day, but I was far more advanced.... sail in winds to your skill level. Yes I have pictures to prove it. Lol
Not trying to be a internet badass but I have sailed in far worse conditions in my Sunfish. He is going well beyond his experience apparently as I would have been saying is going be a fun day in this wind. Plus they way his sail is rigged is not correct for that much wind and over powering the boat for him. I have been in gale force winds and swells on the Atlantic that would hide my whole mast when in the lows. Strong weather can be lots of fun in a Sunfish if you can handle it and have the experience.
These kind of folks lean left on a bike to turn right because they read something about counter steer. No amount of feel or balance is going to override what they think they know. The bail bucket ... on a sunfish ... says it all.
A; I would never have launched in those conditions. B: if you're not in good shape physically, more than two capsizes and you become too tired to right the boat and get back in; that could be deadly. C: Overall sloppiness of the lines, getting them wrapped around the tiller at one point. D, don't lose the paddle; this may have been a case where it's the better part of valor to lower the rig and paddle, if you can, but then again, these conditions make paddling futile, I think. This was a recipe for a drowning death and it was just dumb luck he made it to safety. That video gave me nightmares.
From the video description: "This video is aimed at anyone who wants to sell anyone who wants to start to sell I’ll learn to sell" Yes, I want to sell anyone. I want to start to sell. Will you learn to sell?
@@chriswilliams8749 That's right it's just a passthrough hole at the top tip of the mast -- but at the end of the halyard there is a clip shackle that just snapped in half. (copper)
That guy is lucky that he got to post the original video on his own and will have further opportunity to make a fool of himself again. Felix Riesenberg put it this way: The sea is selective, slow at recognition of effort and aptitude but fast in the sinking of the unfit.
@@LeeSideSailing one thing I like in your commentary was an honest take on wind. Too many folks don't realize that 10 to 15, whether talking MPH or knots, is getting to the experts only range. You also commented on "at least he had a cell phone." I guess on our home waters of the Great South Bay, a cell phone is likely to be in range of a tower even if it's not a four bars signal. There are many places where a cell phone is a as useful as a brick. BTW - any idea where that guy was sailing? There was land off in the distance, but it looked far distant.
@@Alphie_G My coastal navigation videos and my non-eventful sailing videos don't even get as much attention as the ones where I'm making a fool of myself. It's weird. People are best entertained by fools and buffoons. clearly. ruclips.net/video/QrXJnZ1jfRg/видео.html
@@LeeSideSailing I learned to sail at a sailing camp when I was 12yrs old. We sailed wooden K-boats :) I retired this year and am restoring a 78 Sunfish, a ‘67 Catfish, and going to spruce up our 22’ Catalina. Looking forward to springtime!! I enjoy your videos immensely- keep ‘em coming!!
Okay wow - the guy doesn't even know how to tie a cleat? he should SO not be on the water in that weather. I thought he seemed very inexperienced - funny I saw the guy's video just a few days ago and then saw your coverage of it.
Obviously he doesn’t know how to sail. Before he even went out on the water he should of checked the wind. I do competitive travel sailing and seeing this guy do everything wrong gets me scared for him for when he gets back out. I hope someone teaches him how to hike through rough winds and teach him how to tie his knots better and rig his boat the right way. Please get this guy a person to teach him the basics.
I have a feeling that you guys staged this video to show everything that could possible go wrong. I think he is a great sailor and it's all just an act. But I enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks!
That "clip/shackle" whatever he called it had no business being used to attach the halyard to the upper spar. Learn how to rig the boat properly before going out. Don't sit on the aft deck. He made things worse by not raising the sail all the way the second time. The boom won't rotate freely when its touching the deck. Plus probably scratched up the deck. Pretty sure the plastic sail clip ended up breaking because the halyard wasn't tied to the spar properly. I THINK the daggerboard was connected to the boat so that's good. Learn to belay to a cleat! And finally the most terrifying thing was the condition of the bottom of that hull!!! 🤭
@@LeeSideSailing it looked like he just made a loose "knot" around the upper spar so as he hoisted the halyard slid up until it stopped on the sailspar grommet. Definitely need to fasten that more securely so the halyard doesn't slide up the spar. I'm somewhat suprised that known he didn't know how to use a cleat that he didnt just fashion some other knot instead opting to just add turns... Also keeping those lines not cleaned up was really stressing me out, i was worreid about a self-imposed drowning.
Yes you are right. The loose knot when he lost his shackle. I’m not sure how it was attached to the spar originally. I did show a close up for a few seconds in my video before he launched.
A couple of things and too many words (sorry). First and foremost honestly assessing the conditions and whether you should sail, or more importantly if you do sail what is a prudent course. I'm not sure if the intent here was to sail around a bit and go back to the beach, or to try to make a destination. Either way, properly assessing the conditions and planning the outing accordingly goes a long way to making the difference between a good and bad day on the water, no matter what craft you're on. On a boat like this don't put yourself in a situation in these conditions where you'll get taken away from shore when the poo hits the fan. Be honest about the conditions. Yes, push it sometimes to gain experience, but try to do that without getting into a potential rescue situation. If you're going to push it be honest about the condition of your equipment and skills and make it right beforehand. It didn't seem like there was the ability to properly hike which would have made a big difference. Need to have some of those skills before pushing it. And about racers doing regattas with wind speed in the 20s - be careful, in a regatta you'll have crash boats and people watching for rescues. There's a big difference in the risk of doing a regatta in those conditions and heading off into the deep by yourself in the same. If you're going to do it, at least look a chart over and pick bale out spots or possible wreck ashore locations to aim for if need be. In this case it's obvious the forecast was known, to continue out into the wind line was a bit of a poor choice IMO. The knots have been harped on, but I'll add something on the cleat - When raising the sail if the halyard had simply been led under the leading horn of the cleat he could have had more control over the line to hoist and tie it off - simple things, big difference. On the lifeline - from distance racing cat sailing days we would put a carabiner on our trap harnesses and clip it to the mainsheet if we thought conditions warranted. On a Sunfish the end of the mainsheet would need to be dead ended on the boat so you could clip between the cockpit block and dead end. If you fall off or get separated the main would get sheeted in and the boat will capsize, doing this means one less line in the snake nest. It would need to be sorted to see if it could be done safely so as not to get tangled, and there's debate on whether you want to be clipped in and fall off a speeding boat (that can hurt real bad). Not likely useful for a regatta but adventure sailing might be worth a think. Spars - not saying it was a problem here, but for Sunfish is there any thought to making sure the spars are watertight? Some buoyancy but also to keep them from filling with water so you don't have to fight the weight when righting or sailing afterwards. And lastly, on "making the call" - i didn't notice if the device on board was a cell phone or a VHF radio. Always have a VHF for this kind of thing, and keep it on your body. Also having a cellphone is good, but the radio is essential to getting assistance from nearby boaters that you don't have a phone number for.
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I think after the third capsize I'd have sat on the upturned hull and taken some time to recover. He is close to panic, which is a recipe for drowning…he is breathing hard, almost hyperventilating….so it'd only take one big gulp and that'd be that. Drowning can happen so fast.
Famous words of wisdom... “If you can’t tie knots, tie lots!”
It’s so true. ;).
Glad to see you enjoy your cocktail as you watched him struggle. Great video of how things can go wrong if you don't pay attention to details. I'm glad he didn't get wrapped in any of the loose lines.
Thanks for the comments!! Dark and stormy:)
The loose green line strapped to my wrist was my lifeline/leash. Most likely saved my life.
Yup. And that I said ! :).
When I first got my Sunfish I sailed it from Wet Pants to Bellport & back - alone, no phone & no radio. A few weeks later I was sailing it at the Tuesday night races at Wet Pants and after a gybe the gooseneck broke and the sail & spars flew out like a kite. I had no control and the boat capsized. The committee boat was there for me but had that happened on my sail to Bellport a few weeks earlier I would have been in trouble. No more solo sails without a phone or radio.
Fun!
Lee, tell me one thing. Whenever I see any dinghy videos from US, all of the American's seem to not know three main rules of sailing to avoid caping. When you feel that the boat is starting to lean too quickly and to degree which can be dangerous
1. You turn the boat into the wind line.
2. You loose immediately the main sail.
3. You do both.
Whenever I see Sunfishes fall over, the main sales are tightly heaved. In addition no one tries to just turn into the wind direction.
Why is that?
Cheers from Europe.
I think people do that from lack of training, coaching and or experience :).
Yep, just turn into the wind or let the sail out to de-power. I have sailed a Sunfish, had it up on its side basically, never capped. I have a Hobie 16 and I've not capsized it either. I also have a Super Snark which is a fun little boat, took it to the beach recently sailing in the gulf in Destin an didn't capsized it either. I used to sail a little Sea Snark right off the beach in Destin and I would have the boat so far over that water would be pouring in, I did it for fun and never capsized. Ya just have to know what you are doing, know your boat, and have a sense of "feeling" what the boat is doing. Happy Sails!!!!
Yeah I live in Pensacola. I've always shyed away from catamarans due to their size and tendency to capsize. Sunfish is small enough to handle by myself 👍@@martybrooke9638
Great commentary! Appreciate this information. I am retuning to sailing after many years of kayaking. Enjoying your videos. This was a great lesson on what and what not to do! Definitely need to be be leeward from the sail when recovering a flip. His lifeline saved him. Could have become much worse. Keeping calm...take a breath... see where the wind is coming from and head into it. He must have been exhausted by his third attempt to right his Sunfish.
You’re right ! Thanks!
this entire video gave me STRESS!
Hopefully not so much the commentary. ;).
@@LeeSideSailing no haha the video itself haha :) you did great
Glad you enjoyed it! That was the point, to highlight the stress, though the video was four + hours long, the remaining 4+ footage was killer sailing.
I love Lee rooting for him at the end.
After a while I had to remember we all started somewhere and I had my fair share of capsizes.... but usually had other boats and support close by :).
Once I learned his inner hull had water in it I cut him some slack. We all get to learn from the mistakes of others. besides the obvious things mentioned, one thing I like to do to put the odds in my favor is sail upwind or up current whenever possible, that way if something bad happens the wind or current will take me home a lot easier.
Absolutely sail upwind first If you don’t have a destination to get to! Thanks for the comment!
My initial thought was: reef before you have to.
Point the to the wind before you right the boat because you never know if the sheet is tangled and watching your ride leave without you is a terrifying sight.
I also didn’t see anyone comment about running parallel to the wave crest. That’s an instant knockdown no matter what boat you’re in. At least that’s what they taught us in the sea scouts 40 years ago.
Great point about getting parallel to the waves.
Good stuff Lee. Mike Fetcho from the club. Good refresher for start of season. Best advise - don't go out in weather you can't handle. I've done a lot of dumb things out there.
One doesnt always know what they cant handle, so then there is don’t sail without people around to be able to help…. Plus know your level of skill and stay close to safe and familiar water, especially if alone.
I just sailed for the second time by myself in my sunfish in 10 knot winds with 20 knot gusts and it was terrifying yesterday. It doesn't help that it's October and it was around 40° out. I did capsize but righted it quickly. I gave up after about 45 minutes of trying and decided I would wait for a calmer day. You should do a video on preferred wind conditions for the sunfish, it would be most helpful for an inexperienced sailor like myself. Thanks!
Good idea! In the mean time. Keep ot to less than 13 mph tops. But in 40 degree weather?? Dont even go out alone…. Always wear your PFD
@@LeeSideSailing thanks for the information. I'll stick to that advice. I look forward to a video!
For starters...... his main is rigged way too high. Lowering the sail will massively help his heeling moment
He says, "The shackle broke!".. at the 9:08 mark you can see it i believe. Was the halyard clipped on to the upper spar or something? I think so.
Im not 100% sure. But i think so.
Sail was mounted pretty high up, too. Blowing out that nice race sail, too.
Most definitely.
I had a similar experience with a windsurf. Sailing alone. Sailing an unfamiliar place. Little too late afternoon. Thermal shifty winds (end of the day, the wind pattern reverse). A fishing boat was passing at hailing distance but the shame made me keep trying. I talked to the sail, I begged her to let me handle her all the way back. The new direction implied going back to a different beach where I could see the waves breaking... but going back was the priority.
Bravo for not loosing courage.
Keeping calm and his wits kept him safe.
I had a similar but less severe experience on the Columbia River near Rufus Oregon. I didn’t go out as far and made the decision to turn back a lot sooner. Turns out that the Columbia is a lot different than Perdito Bay Florida 🤣. Now I’m looking forward to gearing up my old sunfish and learning in more favorable conditions!
thanks for sharing! keep it up and watch the weather!
Learning from other people’s mistakes is better than learning from your own mistakes.
Absolutely!! My videos are made from
My personal experiences- aka lots of mistakes:)
As a beginner your channel is a great help!
Thank you! Snd this season i will be producing more content aimed at newer sailors!
When I was much younger I had a Super Porpoise (very similar to a sunfish). I didn't know much at all about sailing but I was a good enough swimmer and in very top shape. I would sail in all sorts of weather and had a blast. Now many years later at 69 and with stage 3 copd, I've picked up an old Glastron Alpha that I'm fixing up. I intend to go very, very slow, stay near shore and I won't even consider sailing if the wind is very strong; at least until I understand my limits. There are very few sailors near me so I won't have the benefit of others help. I have refreshed my knowledge and learned much more than I did before thanks to Lee Montes videos. Thanks Lee. I really appreciate the information you've shared.
Thanks Brian! Keep me posted on your new adventures! Appreciate the comments!
My dad came home with a Glastron Alpha in 1968. Grew up sailing on a small lake in central Oklahoma. Great memories. I miss that boat.
I hope you have it all fixed up & are having fun!
Very important lesson for all of us
He was out for 4.5 hours! I’m glad he was ok... but it could have been really bad.
I remember watching this sunfish sailor’s video last year. I think he sails in Lake Superior which is around 59 gonna get hypothermia quickly degrees. Add that info to his beginning warning remarks.
He was in San Fransisco i believe. Which is not good either :).
@@LeeSideSailing that water would be deep and cold! I bought a waterlogged, 1960-62 (no serial number on it, but dating it from the faded logo), Alcort Sunfish. Cut some ports, dried it out, and have been sanding and sanding…almost ready for fiberglass patches. The boat’s for my daughter.
Les, truly thank you for your teaching videos! I will definitely have my daughter watch them so she knows the correct rigging, knots, and all the great tips you explain. Thank you!
He definitely had that line looped around the mast.
I really enjoy the how to sail videos thanks to you I’m learning so much about sailing
Thanks for the comments. As the spring comes along I plan to get a lot more “How to” videos out--
I'll take a positive view -- he gained good experience with elemental stress on the water, learned a lot of don'ts that he won't repeat, had a good day on the water and survived. I've been in similar fuckups and they're some of my best sailing memories. He had the good sense to use a lifeline.
Thanks for the comment! And he did learn, after making the video he reached out to me :)
Great videos! I'm glad I didn't watch this before I bought a 1976 Sunfish off a local guy for $240 (no trailer). I was looking for a small boat that I could carry in the back of my pickup, load and unload solo. I didn't realize a Sunfish can be such a wet and wild ride. I've yet to get it on the water. After getting it home, I discovered several holes along the keel by the bailer. It had been poorly repaired before. This damage seems to be very common from the other boats I've seen for sale. I've repairing the area and plan on painting the entire bottom. The deck polished out better than expected. The sail is pretty worn with many small holes that are now patched. I do want to get out on a local lake before the weather turns next month. I'm a very conservative 62 year old sailor with a Boston Whaler Harpoon 6.2 that I typically solo. It takes at least 30 minutes to rig before leaving my slip. It can be a handful when the wind kicks up.
Thanks steve!! Watch the weather! From 5-10 MpH. Usually one will be ok…. This sailor was in the mid to upper teens- challenging conditions for most people. :).
I learned on a Sunfish clone (Gulf Coast 13). Taught myself from a book the basics but it took some incidents like this to figure some things out. I began doing what I call a tack gybe. Where you tack all the way around to your next course. Before I learned this, I capsized once in a fairly shallow bay. The upper spar caught in the mud on the bottom of the little bay I was in and it was a bear to get the bow back into the wind. Then it was tough to right the boat due to the spar stuck in the mud. Luckily I'm a big guy so I finally got it to pop up and then it rained mud all over me. LOL. A teachable moment for sure.
Great story! Ive got my mast stuck in the mud too. And sometimes unable to get it upright woth out a pull from power boat. Thanks!
I wouldn't say I'm an expert by any means, but with many years of sunfishing and daysailering in everything from a 12 to a 25... this guy definitely was in over his head.
I went sailing on a day like this on a lake and it was spectacular. Beating upwind was a bit of a struggle (I think I'll be switching to Jens) Downwind surfing the waves was a blast. Thankful I had the drysuit on. Definitely good advice from Lee here. Don't push your limits too quickly.
Good words from your experience!
How do you develop good judgement? From experience. How to you gain experience? Bad judgement.
Kudos to Carlos for keeping his wits about him.
Plus getting experience from learning from other people’s mistakes :).
Learn from your mistakes and learn from other people mistakes and don't do something stupid
I stumbled across that video a few days ago and was amazed he took off away from shore in such wind. You have to admire him for his guts, though. Lee your comments were outstanding as always. Shouldn't the halyard be first secured to a cleat on the base of the mast before running through the block on the deck? Otherwise that is a lot of load on the block, which will pull out when overloaded - been there. The life line is a good idea - never thought about that but I sure will in the future. BTW I am working on a mast bob for the Sunfish, which might have helped him when capsized.
Most people don’t use a mast cleat. Mast cleats are after market add one... they are not required, some high level racers don’t agree with using them. While others swear by them. A mast head bob would have prevented the turtling of the boat most definitely:).
@@LeeSideSailing Thanks Lee. It is great having you as an advisor on such things.
Kent, first it goes through the block, then it is cleated.
@@ChrisWilliams-hq3vk Thanks Chris. I was referring to a separate cleat towards the bottom of the mast I have seen on some Sunfish. The halyard comes down from the top of the mast, is wrapped a few times around the cleat on the mast, then passes through the block on the deck and then finally (again) to a second cleat on the deck. One explanation was that the load on the halyard when sailing should be transferred to the mast and not the block. If Lee says this is not advisable, good enough for me.
I have never seen a clear on a sunfish mast, but both of mine had one on the deck. Should one be added to the mast?
You have to stay close to the Marin shoreline when it blows like this in the north bay !
If the wind is blowong off the shore, stay parallel by reaching back and forth and one must learn and know how to sail close hauled and to tack back and forth to bring you bacl to shore. He kept sailing down wind….
Luckily I sail on a small lake so I'm never far from shore, but we all have those "Oh crap" moments. When I was in college I was out sailing a hobby boat we'd picked up when I was a teenager and felt the rudder was "squishy." I quickly turned downwind (towards home) and looked to figure out what the problem was with the boat this time, only to see the rudder blade floating away 10 feet behind me. Luckily I was able to put all my weight on the transom and get it back to shore with what was left of the rudder and some creative jib work.
Wow. That sounds like an adventure!
thank you for your video my friend , it was very helpfull. Im thinking to buy a sunflower snark . Do you know it? Do you suggest it for begginers? (I live in greece and aegean weather is always windy 4-5-6 . )
Welcome from Greede! I have never sailed the sunflower, but what i know about snarks. They do well in lighter winds.
Sorry he got himself into that situation...but what a great education for the rest of us. I hadn't watched the video on my own. Am glad my first view was with you reacting to it. Seeing and hearing the repetition of do's and don'ts is invaluable. You don't learn as well from hearing or seeing something once.
Absolutely, and ne needs to experience it first hand too…. But seeing what can happen will
Help keep ine safe! Thanks for the comment!
@@LeeSideSailing your videos are ESSENTIAL!!! I bought my first sunfish yesterday. Raining today. Tomorrow will be the first sail ever. You got me as ready as i can be. Thank you.
@@lstefans thank you! Good luck. Wear your PFD!
@@LeeSideSailing thx. would never go out with wearing my PFD. First time out was anxiety-filled...a mix of good & confusion. Am sure each time out it will get better and smoother.
@@lstefans absolutely right. Each time you go out, do one thing different…. After each time you will collect many experiences. Enjoy!
3:10 He didn't put his dagger board down for a long time....
He was going down wind the board only is used when cross wind
I sail on a lake (Canada) & “life lines” not mentioned. Where is it tied to the boat and how long is recommended?
For the most part in a sunfish life lines are actually not recommend. I most of the time when the boat capsizes it stopped sailing and one could just hold onto the boat. Having a line attached to you may be more trouble than it potentially changes as you can get tangled up into it. Now to answer your question on what the seller did he probably had, 13 feet of line tied to himself I believe on his rest and to his hiking strap I believe. But again I don’t think a lifeline is recommended.
Watch the weather, and if the conditions are forecasted to be a lot for you then wait for a better day. :)
I would turn up wind and start to go on a reach to be to try to get back toward land you could also always just go in the irons
Thanks for your comment!
Heah Lee. Can you do a tutorial about how to fair your centerboard trunk?
I’ll try and put it on my list :)
i would sail a bit closer to the wind,a broad reach. you can release the sail a bit to empty it, if you want to avoid capsizing.
Absolutely!
Here is how the guy finished up, as described when he originally posted the video "Three capsizes, broken halyard shackle, lost paddle, lost bailing bucket, random rain-shower, and finally abandoned the beached dinghy. Walked across a mile of soggy marsh land and had to swim across a river onto dry land. So much fun!
" He has 103,000 views so far, but Lee's is the better video to watch since it has advice included in it. And to emphasize, Sunfish do not have, and should not have, a halyard shackle!
Thanks Chris for the reply. I did add it out a few minutes of him just sailing straight as it got a little boring to watch. I appreciate your comments!!
@@LeeSideSailing My other videos were I successfully sail across and back barely get any views :)
None of my videos are monetized. My dog video has half a million views. I did recover U-123 four days later. I had hid the mast/boom and most of the rig where I ended up scuttling and the sailboard I picked up 6 miles away, it beached on a public park and was recovered. :)
@@CarlosAguila hope you keep sailing her!
@@CarlosAguila sailing video views are proportional to how many accidents, capsizes, issues, exotic lands, bikinis and dogs are in it. :)
Lee Montes - everything you said was SPOT ON! The first capsize was due to an INCOMPLETE - Failed tack (I’m use to real keelboats with more momentum) and I kept my sail tucked in while fiddling with the boat’s orientation, should have let the sail go. But here is the kicker, my coaming was not entirely water tight (through the screws) -so after the first capsize I had taken up tons of water in the hull. Was doomed to capsize again shortly. And the mast block broke when the mast scraped against some rock underneath while turtled. Yes the wind was about 18 knots when I launched but you can clearly see I was in a windshadow! I didn’t include the part where I was in center and it rained and lighting came down! (You can see the cloud front in the sky from the beginning )- In mid bay (red warning issued) it was easily 25+ knots -The best part of the journey was slipping off this crazy wave, literally surfing 🏄♂️ exceeding hull-speed. Sucks I didn’t record that, Go-Pro ran out of battery, but made the adventure worth it.
If you had any of that lightning or other footage, that’s part 2!
@@LeeSideSailing I was running downwind after the third and a half hour, with the sail raised 30% (yes my boom was ON THE DECK) , then this crazy brief 30 minute rain storm and 2 thunderbolts struck about 75 meters from me (that was insanely scary). I was warm but my fingers were numb. My favorite part was exceeding hull speed running with the wind and slipping off a large wave created by the Golden Gate Transit Shuttle Boat, who had reported sighting me to the Coast Guard on their return back to Frisco from Vallejo. They must have seen me resting and sitting on the hull and later one of the CG planes swept down right over me (a little late) since I was just about 100 meters away from beaching the sunfish. I never had to call Vessel Assist!!! Never had to "make that call" :)
I guess the halyard maybe keeps the mast in the boat if it turtles.
Yes!!!
This guy has a life line. Is this a must? Have to admit I've been sailing for like 8 years and never used one. l do sail on a small lake with plenty of boats around usually.
You don’t have to have one in your situation. Most of the time no…. In his situation, in hind site, probably was helpful. :).
Nope, never used one in a Sunfish, Aero, college dinghies or 505
Never used one either, but in his situation. Probably was a good idea. :)
Had something similar happen on windsurfer in early 80s. In lee at the beach but wind building as I moved offshore. Wound up at about 15 gusting to 20kts.
Exhausted myself attempting to beat back to beach.
Ultimately had to derig the sail and paddle about 1 nm to get to shore. Very difficult paddling against the wind and almost ditched the rig. Very scary.
Finally made it in. I was fit, brand new board and lots of experience but just lost track of distance and seduced by beautiful scene at the beach.
If wind is blowing offshore and you are in a small boat, exercise extreme caution.
Excellent advice!
Wow, I am thinking of getting into Sunfish sailing in my 60’s. Now after seeing this I am rethinking this.
Steve. You can do it... but please be smart. Step by step. Learn the basics, and sail with others who know more when you’re can and learn. My friend Vito started to learn in his mid 60s. He figured out his limits over time and experiences. The fellow in the video, was over his head, too early in his sailing career. If you wanted to start mountain climbing, would you start on Mt Everest? You can sail at 60 plus- Small steps at first, safety first and enjoy the process :).
Sunfish is a fun little sailboard. Designed for PROTECTED WATERS , eg LAKES. It's best to be sailed (and most comfortable) in light to max 8-10 knot winds. Get one! They are cheap and easy to maintain. Just don't do what I did, unless you're an excellent swimmer and like to drink ocean water. :)
With practice you can sail a Sunfish in many heavier conditions. It planes pretty easily and can be a real fun ride reaching back and forth.
@@LeeSideSailing My friend Shawn can actually capsize and turtle ANY dinghy and NEVER get a drop of water on himself. With the "roll over technique". As the boat rolls over, he's already walking his way to the dagger-board. Dude is amazing. I asked him how he learned to do that and he says "Carlos, look dude, eventually you get tired of getting wet." His brother is an Olympic sailor. But you should expect to get wet in winds over 15 knots on any non-keeled/sailboard.
I did it and love it. Leaned most stuff from watching RUclips videos. Just be smart and learn to sail in calmer conditions and work your way up to stronger winds.
I took my sunfish out for the third time ever, first time this year. This video was strangely familiar. I think the forecast was about 14 mph . I guess i learned that's too much wind.
As you get more experienced you’ll be able to handle wind at the 14 mile an hour range however just learning in that wind the boat reacts exponentially quicker. Keep it up!
Ok, I have to confess that I have been out on the water when I shouldn't be. That's when I drop the sail and grab my kayak paddle!
As long as your safe!!
You are
Great video critique for me to learn how to overcome beginner mistakes. I can't believe he didn't lash his paddle to the vessel. This is a lucky man... could've been worse.
He was lucky and underestimated all the variables. Thanks!
don't go out on a day with strong offshore wind. It might be fun headed out but you still have to beat your way back in.
Absolutely. I usually advise to sail upwind first!
Upwind is the fun part
This would’ve been me. Thanks for posting this video. I learned a lot, and have been in a similar situation where I realized I was in over my head and didn’t know how to get myself out of trouble. Could you comment on the life line? I know nothing about that; how to tie, what to tie to (both ends) etc. Thanks!!!
Well most of the time a life line is not needed as a sailboat usually will head up into the wind and not sail away too far. I don’t think many people would advocate for this is a ll boat. In his situation, he was exhausted so it helped him pull
Himself to the boat…. He tied it to his wrist and them to a stationary part of the boat…. PFDs are mandatory on small sailboats at all times in my opinion.
I need a custom waterproof cover with the sail and boom down
There are a few places that make them, try sailors tailor, mast head, slo sails and others
Lmbo 😂 I’m just happy this guy isn’t flying an airplane 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Hehe. You got that right. :)
This sailor made a series of serious mistakes. Lee, your comments on this video are spot on. I can see this kind of thing happening easily. Once he realized he was in wind beyond his capability, he should have at the very least stayed near shore, certainly not headed farther from shore. People, please don't leave shore until you know the knots. His upper spar knot should have been a clove hitch but was instead a loose loop and allowed the sail to dip down and be less controllable. His cleat knot allowed the sail to fall repeatedly. Not raising the sail to the top of the mast allowed the sail to be very full and less controllable, his pulling on the halyard behind the deck block could have ripped the block out of the deck and did add friction enough to not allow him to raise it high enough. He did persevere calmly, wore a PFD and had a lifeline attached to his wrist, so I'm wondering if this was a planned situation. Many experienced sailors would have loved the conditions, so it wasn't dangerous unless the sailor is inexperienced. Know your stuff, know your experience, know your limits.
Excellent comment Don. Thank you!
Actually, a Rolling Hitch is better suited for attaching the halyard to the upper spar. It resists lateral movement so it stays in the intended position. Also moving the hitch higher or lower can help change the height of the sail for different conditions/purposes. Higher on the spar lowers the sail and generally better suited for racing or high performance, move the hitch lower (towards the mast) will help lift the boom up and is safer for new sailors or if sailing with more than one person.
Tourist, but the dagger board varnish is nice and shinny
I agree, that was some nice varnish job!!
He never made sure his lines were sorted to raise the sail... it was wrapped around the mast several times.. no wonder it was so hard to raise and fell right down. Even with the cleat not tied properly.. if the mast rotated at al it would drop several inches at least.. just a novice sailer here but..
I have never used a life line, I can see the advantages.. what would be the proper way to rig one?
Hi Jesse. You’re right about the wrapping and unraveling of the halyard around the mast. The rig would drop more. I actually haven’t rigged a lifeline when I sailed a Sunfish... he tied it around his wrist and looked like it was attached to his traveller/bridle. Not sure if that’s the best way, but it’s one way. Another could be to attach it to the end of your Mainsheet, with a proper knot. Like a sheet bend. Or the base of his mast? There was no hiking strap, that would have been another area to attach to.
He should have rounded up into the wind as he raised the sail - and should have raised the sail by pulling down on the halyard.
ABSOLUTELY!!!
This summer I snapped the mast of my 40 year old wooden optimist, that little sailboat was actually built by my grandfather when he wanted to teach my mother how to sail, but he hasn't had a sailboat so he built one. I made a new mast for it and it's like new now😀 But still this guy should've stopped right at the beginning, and avoided this entire lottery of failure.
You sail an Opti now?
turn around & return to the start point. be safe is paramount!
Absolutely!! Thanks!
Not knowing this guy's sailing history at all, all I can say is that maybe he should not have been out there in conditions like that if he wasn't experienced. I don't understand why he says, "No one is coming to get me." Dude, you have a paddle, so start paddling. You can not go out sailing solo with a mindset that "someone will come get me if things go sideways." You have to be self-reliant. Gain a little experience and then try it again. Good lessons here in what not to do. Learn from this and move on and you will become a better sailor.
Good comments!
Can you not reef a Sunfish sail? If not what is the maximum wind speed you would go out in?
You can reef a sunfish. Have to lower the head and secure the foot. All has to be done in land. Depending on your skills and what you like will determine the max wind speed... a good sunfish sailor can handle low to mid 20 mph winds with effort.... last masters midwinters in Tampa a month ago saw gusts coniute to the mid 30s... some broken spars on older boats.
First flip he went turtle
I would have stayed close to shore. It did not look that bad until he got out further. I would have turned around.
We are gusting 22 mph this evening for racing, and I’m not experienced enough to be comfortable, so I’m not going. I don’t want to be this guy. Lee, I’m going to catching up watching your channel today!
Experience is the best teacher, but also toy don’t want to get yoyrself in trouble getting that experience. Push yourself each time you go out, but never push TOO much…. In other words, dont run a marathon after only two weeks of training. Need to build up the knowledge gradually:). Have fun!
First, like a gun or a new motorcycle, I would take my boat seriously.
I would learn all I can about my boat and practice my knots before I got in the water.
I would pick a much more calm day for my first ride.
I would stay close to shore in an unfamiliar boat.
If the wind picked up too much I would spill more of it off the sail so that I can keep control.
My destination when I'm finished would be to return to my starting point.
Great points! One thing i would add… While going dead downwind, sometimes its better to trim in too much, which. Depowers the sail. (You pinch the sail). Thanks !
Where's the video on the knots?
I totally forgot to make it!!! I must make that now.
Hi Lee,
Thanks this was great. Have you seen the series of videos by the guy who goes camping , sailing his Sunfish on Lake Superior? Gear tied on the deck, etc. All alone, miles from anywhere. He does have an EPIRB etc. Not an experienced sailor but he knows not to go out in a blow.
Jonathan Brush from Shelter Island
Just knowing your limits is part of being experienced:). And if you push those limits, make sure you have an out! Thanks for the comments :).
Stayig closer to shore would indeed have been a good idea.
Fire Extinguisher, Flares, Anchor, Bucket, Throwable Cushion, Flashlight, 50ft 1" Tow Line, Offshore Life Preserver, Tools, 1st Aid Kit 🤨⚠️🪣🧽📣🧯🔔🛠⛓🪝❗
Put the original videos link to desc.
Good idea.
I would site the Rosary & pray for divine wind.
Sail upwind first, can always get back that way
I agree 100%
Did he survive?
Yes, thays how he posted the video :)
Always turn around and go back as you will have to tack . If unsure stay close to shoreline. Poor man didn't have enough experience to stop and do this sail another day. Constantly he predicted his doom.
Right you are!
He had absolutely no business going out. My personal best was sustained 32 mph breeze with gusts 41mph. It was a great day, but I was far more advanced.... sail in winds to your skill level. Yes I have pictures to prove it. Lol
I’d like to see those Picts.
And your fitness level.
Pictures or it didn't happen! :P Kidding, but... do please share.
Not start in the first place. That was too much wind for such a little boat. Know your conditions. Know your boat.
Absolutely, but he was admittedly inexperienced …. :). Now he knows better :)
Not trying to be a internet badass but I have sailed in far worse conditions in my Sunfish. He is going well beyond his experience apparently as I would have been saying is going be a fun day in this wind. Plus they way his sail is rigged is not correct for that much wind and over powering the boat for him. I have been in gale force winds and swells on the Atlantic that would hide my whole mast when in the lows. Strong weather can be lots of fun in a Sunfish if you can handle it and have the experience.
He definitely was a bit over his head. :). Thanks for the comment.
These kind of folks lean left on a bike to turn right because they read something about counter steer. No amount of feel or balance is going to override what they think they know. The bail bucket ... on a sunfish ... says it all.
:)
Turn around immediately
A; I would never have launched in those conditions. B: if you're not in good shape physically, more than two capsizes and you become too tired to right the boat and get back in; that could be deadly. C: Overall sloppiness of the lines, getting them wrapped around the tiller at one point. D, don't lose the paddle; this may have been a case where it's the better part of valor to lower the rig and paddle, if you can, but then again, these conditions make paddling futile, I think. This was a recipe for a drowning death and it was just dumb luck he made it to safety. That video gave me nightmares.
I agree paddling may have been futile for at least a while. :)
From the video description: "This video is aimed at anyone who wants to sell anyone who wants to start to sell I’ll learn to sell"
Yes, I want to sell anyone. I want to start to sell. Will you learn to sell?
@saxteacher thanks for the proof reading :). This is what happens when you talk to text! Haha
The sailor in the video has courage, but his skills need to be refined, with shallow-water capsizing drills. John D.
Seems like his halyard was tied up in a weird way from the beginning.
I think he had a block up there.
It's a 1974 - restored sunfish -- snapped block.
@@CarlosAguila Shouldn’t be a block up there - or a shackle!
@@chriswilliams8749 That's right it's just a passthrough hole at the top tip of the mast -- but at the end of the halyard there is a clip shackle that just snapped in half. (copper)
There should not be a shackle on your halyard.
That guy is lucky that he got to post the original video on his own and will have further opportunity to make a fool of himself again.
Felix Riesenberg put it this way: The sea is selective, slow at recognition of effort and aptitude but fast in the sinking of the unfit.
I think his video will help people learn what can happen when many small problems add up to a big issue :) Thanks for the comment!
@@LeeSideSailing one thing I like in your commentary was an honest take on wind. Too many folks don't realize that 10 to 15, whether talking MPH or knots, is getting to the experts only range.
You also commented on "at least he had a cell phone." I guess on our home waters of the Great South Bay, a cell phone is likely to be in range of a tower even if it's not a four bars signal. There are many places where a cell phone is a as useful as a brick.
BTW - any idea where that guy was sailing? There was land off in the distance, but it looked far distant.
@@Alphie_G that was SF Bay.
@@Alphie_G My coastal navigation videos and my non-eventful sailing videos don't even get as much attention as the ones where I'm making a fool of myself. It's weird. People are best entertained by fools and buffoons. clearly. ruclips.net/video/QrXJnZ1jfRg/видео.html
"Know thy limits". I shudder watching this. You narrate it well. This dude should have learned how to sail before he went sailing.
Thanks for the comment! He got over his head :)
@@LeeSideSailing I learned to sail at a sailing camp when I was 12yrs old. We sailed wooden K-boats :) I retired this year and am restoring a 78 Sunfish, a ‘67 Catfish, and going to spruce up our 22’ Catalina. Looking forward to springtime!! I enjoy your videos immensely- keep ‘em coming!!
Thanks Matt!
Intensity Sails 💀
Taking a Sunfish out on sharkinfested waters when you can' t sail in strong winds.🤘👍🥴
Well this is in san Fransisco area- not sure of sharks up there? But that would be scary for sure
@@LeeSideSailing
ruclips.net/video/oQa6ozN2DKI/видео.htmlsi=HwBSzlEYYRqffujr
He better kiss the ground when he gets back ashore. inexperience such as this is a real killer.
I think he really did thank everything he was on land
With his total lack of experience he had no business being out in those conditions. The end.
I like this video but why did I have to watch 15 minutes of ads lol?
Thank you. However google put ads on the videos. I personally pay for premium RUclips and get no ads.
Right off the rig is way too high. Nice breeze.
Some people like it that high. That’s why I didn’t even make a comment. :).
I don’t sail when no one is around
Smart
Okay wow - the guy doesn't even know how to tie a cleat? he should SO not be on the water in that weather. I thought he seemed very inexperienced - funny I saw the guy's video just a few days ago and then saw your coverage of it.
Thanks for the comment! :)
This should be renamed what not to do on a sunfish
Hehehe. True.
Obviously he doesn’t know how to sail. Before he even went out on the water he should of checked the wind. I do competitive travel sailing and seeing this guy do everything wrong gets me scared for him for when he gets back out. I hope someone teaches him how to hike through rough winds and teach him how to tie his knots better and rig his boat the right way. Please get this guy a person to teach him the basics.
He actually did check the weather! He said “in two hours the winds will go up another five knots”. 😳
I'd turn back
Smart
I have a feeling that you guys staged this video to show everything that could possible go wrong. I think he is a great sailor and it's all just an act.
But I enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks!
We all have been there and I appreciate the comment and thanks for watching!
That "clip/shackle" whatever he called it had no business being used to attach the halyard to the upper spar. Learn how to rig the boat properly before going out. Don't sit on the aft deck. He made things worse by not raising the sail all the way the second time. The boom won't rotate freely when its touching the deck. Plus probably scratched up the deck. Pretty sure the plastic sail clip ended up breaking because the halyard wasn't tied to the spar properly. I THINK the daggerboard was connected to the boat so that's good. Learn to belay to a cleat! And finally the most terrifying thing was the condition of the bottom of that hull!!! 🤭
I’m not even sure how the shackle was rigged?? :)
@@LeeSideSailing it looked like he just made a loose "knot" around the upper spar so as he hoisted the halyard slid up until it stopped on the sailspar grommet. Definitely need to fasten that more securely so the halyard doesn't slide up the spar. I'm somewhat suprised that known he didn't know how to use a cleat that he didnt just fashion some other knot instead opting to just add turns... Also keeping those lines not cleaned up was really stressing me out, i was worreid about a self-imposed drowning.
Yes you are right. The loose knot when he lost his shackle. I’m not sure how it was attached to the spar originally. I did show a close up for a few seconds in my video before he launched.
Also just noticed this guy was wrapping his hand in the sheet (or some line) which could a list of other issues.
@@aaroncaito3280 good catch. I saw that too...
He also doesn't seem to know to hike.....
He doesn't seem to have a hicking strap.
Sail too high?
A couple of things and too many words (sorry). First and foremost honestly assessing the conditions and whether you should sail, or more importantly if you do sail what is a prudent course. I'm not sure if the intent here was to sail around a bit and go back to the beach, or to try to make a destination. Either way, properly assessing the conditions and planning the outing accordingly goes a long way to making the difference between a good and bad day on the water, no matter what craft you're on. On a boat like this don't put yourself in a situation in these conditions where you'll get taken away from shore when the poo hits the fan. Be honest about the conditions. Yes, push it sometimes to gain experience, but try to do that without getting into a potential rescue situation. If you're going to push it be honest about the condition of your equipment and skills and make it right beforehand. It didn't seem like there was the ability to properly hike which would have made a big difference. Need to have some of those skills before pushing it. And about racers doing regattas with wind speed in the 20s - be careful, in a regatta you'll have crash boats and people watching for rescues. There's a big difference in the risk of doing a regatta in those conditions and heading off into the deep by yourself in the same. If you're going to do it, at least look a chart over and pick bale out spots or possible wreck ashore locations to aim for if need be. In this case it's obvious the forecast was known, to continue out into the wind line was a bit of a poor choice IMO. The knots have been harped on, but I'll add something on the cleat - When raising the sail if the halyard had simply been led under the leading horn of the cleat he could have had more control over the line to hoist and tie it off - simple things, big difference. On the lifeline - from distance racing cat sailing days we would put a carabiner on our trap harnesses and clip it to the mainsheet if we thought conditions warranted. On a Sunfish the end of the mainsheet would need to be dead ended on the boat so you could clip between the cockpit block and dead end. If you fall off or get separated the main would get sheeted in and the boat will capsize, doing this means one less line in the snake nest. It would need to be sorted to see if it could be done safely so as not to get tangled, and there's debate on whether you want to be clipped in and fall off a speeding boat (that can hurt real bad). Not likely useful for a regatta but adventure sailing might be worth a think. Spars - not saying it was a problem here, but for Sunfish is there any thought to making sure the spars are watertight? Some buoyancy but also to keep them from filling with water so you don't have to fight the weight when righting or sailing afterwards. And lastly, on "making the call" - i didn't notice if the device on board was a cell phone or a VHF radio. Always have a VHF for this kind of thing, and keep it on your body. Also having a cellphone is good, but the radio is essential to getting assistance from nearby boaters that you don't have a phone number for.
Very thorough in your thoughts and I agree. :). Thanks for the comment!