The first thing I would do is dump the mainsail.

An idiot pushing limits in too big of wind or not watching the weather and having too much sail when a storm gust hits just right. That or a poorly designed catamaran with a narrow beam and too much sail

Note to self: Make sure all floorboards have LOCKS on them, not just the standard flip up latch or through hole.

Because flipping is extremely rare.

Yes there is, usually the captain or helmsman can hit a button on the AIS device to set of the distress beacon. Also, some PFD have an AIS beacon, and most life rafts also have the AIS beacon as well. All are battery powered and sealed units and should last for weeks until your rescued.

Yes. It’s called EPIRB. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. It sends a distress signal and position by satellite. The better models will automatically deploy if a vessel sinks or capsizes.

That is Brilliant. There are easy ways to work it into a configuration too, that coul deploy to keep it afloat only, would righting it be deemed too expensive.

Well, how you would "drive" a man overboard is different of Cat, Wind, water, and crew.... So there is no reason to show a "how to", unless you show all extremes.... its unlikely that its a "man overboard" in nice sunny, flat water...

I understand you can't practice for every condition, but that doesn't mean you should not practice at all. I have practiced MOB in many situations, even in calm seas, as practicing and feeling the maneuvers under sail, from a tack, from a breach and from a run, or under motor are all different and need to be practiced as often as you can to establish some mental memory on how your boat will handle. MOB can happen at anytime and under any condition, a good captain is always aware of this and looks out for his crew.

Agreed

@@MichaelBuck us too. We quickly learned to toss a Ditch bag asap, for the person in the water. It included 3 Floatation devices and was stowed in a great place. We tried it with a weighted float though, not with a person. It looked like a person above water though.

Some cats, like the Gunboat 55 have a device that releases the lines in an emergency. However, the problem arises when people try to push the cats faster then it was designed to go or for the current weather conditions and before people can react the cat flips. If you recall, there was a guy with the designer of the cat. They were experienced and they had two reefs in the main (this makes the sail area smaller), but they got hit with a cold front (at night, making difficult to see any weather system approaching) and the winds went from 30 to 60 and almost pitched the boat over. As pointed out folks need to understand the boat's limits AND understand the current and future weather conditions, then plan accordingly. Hope this helps.

In most cases releasing the main sheet will do it.

@@bill4nier is it even prudent to keep full sail at night without being glued to weather?

For most cruising cats that are loaded, they weigh too much and the mast will snap. On the other end, it can be from waves that caused the capsize more than the wind.

@@JP-uk9uc The main was on its second reef.

Most catamarans are built with watertight crash bulkheads in front to stop the spreading of flooding. If so, then the rest of the hull may be dry. A dry catamaran hull is a better shelter than a lifeboat, etc.

I disagree. See renegade-cruisers.net/bb//viewtopic.php?t=13094. The captain would probably have survived hypothermia if he would have stayed inside the hulls and protected of the elements. Also taking a "wet sail" down when inverted under dantesque conditions would be probably be impossible. You will have to go beneath the boat and work again gravity...

+John Stromberg yep it would be hard but I know a guy the did it on a hobie and spent 3 nights at see till he was found. the sailboat gave the costgard something to see and it was a tent in which to stay out of the sun this was Florida so no problem with cold water. if it's in the northern states or colder water might be a better idea to stay in the hull. but it's hard to wave down another boat from there

+John Stromberg yep it would be hard but I know a guy the did it on a hobie and spent 3 nights at see till he was found. the sailboat gave the costgard something to see and it was a tent in which to stay out of the sun this was Florida so no problem with cold water. if it's in the northern states or colder water might be a better idea to stay in the hull. but it's hard to wave down another boat from there

I would be in the hull on the initial capsize event...then asses my situation, see whats working, whats not, make sure a distress signal is going out, make sure all on board are safe, etc. Also depends on the weather and conditions of the sea, staying in the hull may be the safest place to be for awhile until things calm down. Then If I am drifting and waiting for help, then yes, may pop up, see if the dingy is still around, see if I can get a sail out, use it as a cover, flares, etc and make planes for a longer stay in this situation I am in.

I have seen more mon hulls capsize than dual or triple hulls. The issue is a wider beam on the cats as opposed to a more narrow beamon the mono hulls. Yes, mono hulls have a heavy steel keel to keep it balanced, but if that thing goes, cracks or is overcome, a mono will SINK faster than a rock, whereas with a cat it's NEVER going to sink and you will have something to hold on to and live in for a long time until rescued. I don't want to try and swim for weeks on end waiting for rescue or go down with the boat to the bottom of the sea. Also, statistically there have been more mono hulls that have capsized than catamarans, and statistically more capsized monohulls have lost their crew than catamarans.

And the rudders..And a cabin would be useful

That is a good idea! Or maybe they could have an inflatable device that helps righting the boat.