PROJECT WINDRIGGER - June 1999 installment

The following photos illustrate mechanical features of the capsize recovery arrangement incorporated in Windrigger MK 2 non-reversible proa. Mark Bennett is in the water.

PHOTO 1 - Mark is about to unwind the two bolts securing the crossbeam to the bridgedeck - the forward bolt and its T-bar nut, is by his right hand.	PHOTO 2 - Mark unwound both bolts whilst sitting on the upturned hull and bridgedeck, and rotated the crossbeam/outrigger over the top of the hull bottom.

From this position the proa self-rights with little help from Mark, rolling through the two positions shown in photos 3 and 4.

PHOTO 3 - rolling to upright position	PHOTO 4 - recovery almost complete

Not shown in these photos - the crossbeam rotates to the hull-upright positon where further rotation is prevented by two bars each protruding from opposite sides of the bridgedeck. These bars are shown on the photo to the left of item 11 on page 6.

The hull cockpits collected water during capsize, estimated after this trial to weigh about 350kgs. To cater for this problem, before the trial a rectangular canvas-bag was tailored for a close fit with the bottom, bulkheads and sides of the forward cockpit, with the edges of its top-opening fastened to the hull at deck-level.

It was designed to allow a crew member to lift-out the water using strap-handles sown onto the bag-bottom. This operation was performed after the capsize when the hull was up-right, and was only partially successful because of difficulty in lifting the weight of water and suction between the bag and the cockpit floor.

To solve the first problem, next capsize trial we shall attempt to remove the water by pulling the bag-bottom to deck-level when the hull is in a position between that shown in photos 2 and 3, preferably when the bridgedeck is vertical. I plan to reduce the suction by providing greater atmospheric-air access to the underside of the bag.