How to prevent and survive a knockdown
Deckee ambassador and professional sailor Lucas Chapman reveals his top tips on how to prevent and survive a knockdown aboard a sailboat.
Lucas had to deal with stormy seas more than once while competing multiple times in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the Volvo Ocean Race.
What is a knockdown in sailing?
“A knockdown happens when the force of strong winds, combined with that of a big wave, causes a yacht to go 90 degrees to the water, or less”, explains Chapman. He continues: “In the worst-case scenario, the boat keeps going and the keel ends up facing the sky.” This is what is called a full capsize.
According to the professional sailor, “If the rig ends up in the water, the mast can get damaged or even break. In case a monohull is dismasted, she will right herself up.”
Catamarans, on the other hand, won’t be able to do this and, unless both hulls are holed, will stay afloat, upside down, thanks to the buoyancy tanks.
When does a knockdown occur?
“In strong winds (over 50 knots) and a massive seaway” is the short answer. The Deckee ambassador continues: “When the tops of the waves break and you try to go across or into them, you can end up with a breaking wave hitting the side of the boat. The force rolls the sailboat.
What kinds of boats are at risk of a knockdown?
In such heavy sea conditions, any sailboat is at risk. Chapman explains that bigger, heavier boats can withstand stronger winds and bigger waves, though. So if you’re aboard a larger vessel, the chances of a knockdown are smaller.
How to prevent a knockdown
“Don’t put yourself in that situation, if you can”, says Chapman. “Check the weather forecast and don’t go out if conditions look dangerous.”
“If you do end up in a big storm, preparation is key”, according to Chapman. The professional sailor explains that there are many steps you need to take before the situation becomes risky.
“Make sure to clip into a strong point on deck via your harness and tether and wear a life jacket. Have all your safety gear at the ready - EPIRB, Personal Locator Beacon, grab bag, ... If you have crew on board, it’s worth reminding everyone of how to deploy and use the life raft.”
As the wind and seas build, “Reduce your sail area, put the storm gyb and trisail up - if you have one. If the wind is very strong, just leave the storm jib up to retain steerage. Don’t wait too long to reef. Down below, make sure everything is secured and stowed away properly.”
Maintaining control of the helm is crucial to preventing a knock down. When you’re on the crest of a breaking wave, the flow of water over the rudder can be reversed and cause loss of control. Stay focused while helming.
If you’re worried, get in touch with other vessels in the area, so you can check on each other regularly.
Chapman’s top tip is to try and sail around the waves, rather than into them. You could also heave to (turn the boat 45 degrees to the wind) or deploy a sea anchor or drogue and run with the waves.
Lucas Chapman’s experience of heavy weather sailing
Lucas hasn’t experienced a knock down so far. “But during The Ocean Race, in the Southern Ocean” he recounts, “I sailed in conditions where it could have happened. We ran with it and the boat was going fast enough to surf the waves, rather than getting caught under them.”
The sailor explains: “When you’re racing, you can go fast enough to avoid issues. The problem is when you slow down.”
What steps to take when you are in a knockdown
On a monohull, the boat will usually right itself. “Once it happens, you can’t do much; you become reliant on the keel doing its job” says Chapman.
On a catamaran, you will have to get the crew out of the sailing boat through the escape hatches or the main hatch. As you surface, remember to protect your head from hitting the boat.
Stay with the yacht and use it as a raft if you can. If not, try to find floating objects to hold onto or float. Look for the life raft, which may have automatically deployed during the knockdown. For tips on how to survive at sea, check out this article.
What to do after a knockdown
“Check that everyone is still on the boat and then look for any damage - look closely at the rigging, sails, and hull“ says Chapman.
If the boat is compromised or the crew is in immediate danger, make a Mayday call. If everything is OK, call the emergency services to let them know your situation.
How to reduce the damage caused by a knockdown
If you’re preparing for a passage in an area at risk of big storms, it’s best to take the time to prepare the boat for the worst-case scenario in advance. Think about what could happen if the boat capsized. Visualise the boat upside down and assess what could prevent causing extra damage.
Here are some ideas:
Keep as little gear as you can on deck
Fit the cockpit lockers and hatches with latches
Tie down heavy equipment, such as your outboard, down below and on deck
Keep some safety gear down below, in case you lose everything on deck
Check that the cockpit drains act quickly
Fit latches to the floorboards, cabinets, cupboards, and more
Install a bar over the stove gimbal to prevent it from jumping out
While underway, have washboards at the ready to restrict the amount of water that enters the hull.
As Chapman puts it, “a knockdown is quite the opposite of what you want.” If you avoid going out in heavy weather at all costs, you will likely never put yourself in such a situation.