Navy saves Norwegian couple after sailboat capsizes
Chutharat Plerin



PHUKET: -- The Royal Thai Navy saved a Norwegian couple after the pair's small catamaran capsized off Koh Lanta yesterday afternoon.

The sailors, named by officers as 'Thongunnor Bue' and 'Caron Bue', but believed to be Thom Bue and Carol Bue, struggled to control the boat after their tiller broke.

“Unable to control the boat, a large wave hit them broadside and flipped it over,” explained Lt Preecha Sophon, head of the Royal Thai Navy Maritime Security in Koh Lanta.

Full Story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Navy-saves-Norwegian-couple-sailboat-capsizes/62996?desktopversion#ad-image-0

-- Phuket Gazette 2016-01-28

Shouldn't this be in the Krabi Forum? Lanta and all.....

That design is more stable upside down any ways/ Also if they were trained sailors probably could have righted it,without help. Also no need to tread water if cannot right it.Just sit on the boat well it is upside down it is stable and willnot sink.

If they had ever sailed a catamaran that size before, it would take less than 3 minutes

to right it from that position.

If they had ever sailed a catamaran that size before, it would take less than 3 minutes

to right it from that position.

Or failing that, if they had a wood saw and 10 nails, they could have converted it into a yacht.

Moved to Krabi Forum.

The ocean can be an unforgiving mistress. If you haven't had sufficient instructions, including emergency procedures, don't even attempt to sail a boat.

As Ulic said, righting a catamaran that size is relatively easy, IF you have been taught how. If you haven't been taught how, then learn before going sailing by yourself.

If you break your tiller just drop the sails (which they obviously didn't do) and a catamaran is as stable as a flat raft. To make it even more stable just drag a bit of sail off the back of the boat and that will cause it to head up into the waves so the waves hit the front of the pontoons, not the sides. This greatly reduces the rocking and can prevent the boat from capsizing.

Once the boat is stable rig anything up as a tiller and raise just enough sail to maintain headway and head for shore. Better yet get on your cell phone or marine radio (yes, even on a small catamaran you should have a hand held marine radio) and ask for help.

In my native Holland, we have a saying which cover virtually all of the above "brilliant posts" and it goes something like this: "De Beste Stuurlui Staan Aan Wal !" - and loosely translated that means: "The Best Skippers Stand On The Shore" . . . .

[PS: . . . . and I'll bet anything that at least 2 out of the 6 Posters ARE, in fact, from my native country . . . . 555 ! ! !]

Well if the tiller did break that is a problem. But staying at full sail is rarely the right thing to do after that.