Important Safety Information - Nacra N460 Owner's Manual

3. important safety information

Please read the important safety information and read the
Assembly Manual before sailing your boat.
WARNING!
Check for overhead cables when raising or lower-
ing the mast, launching and sailing the boat. So
look up when moving the craft around and give
any wires a wide berth. A mast which comes in
contact with electrical power lines can cause seri-
ous injury or death!
BEFORE YOU GO SAILING
 Check you are wearing suitable clothing and safety
equipment for the conditions and time of year;
 Secure the drain plugs before sailing and ensure that the
hulls are free of water. Ensure that any hatches are cor-
rectly fitted and have a good seal;
 Carry your Nacra or use beach wheels with cradles when-
ever possible to minimize keel wear;
 Make sure a third party knows where you are sailing and
how many people accompany you;
 Check the weather forecast;
 Check the time of high and low tides if applicable;
 Seek advice of local conditions if sailing in a new area.
 Always check the condition of your craft before setting
off.
SAILING AND BEACHING
WARNING!
Always wear an approved buoyance aid or
lifejacket.

N
ever sail above your ability or that of your crew;
 A sailor's safety knife should be carried on board;
 When launching through the surf, always make sure the
bow is facing the waves.
 Always know the direction that the wind is blowing;
 Watch out for changing weather conditions;
 Ensure that you and your crew can cope with any
changes in the weather conditions;
 After sailing, remove drain plugs to equalize the pressure
in the hulls, if no drain plugs installed, open the hatches;
 Understand and be competent in the sailing skills and
righting techniques.
RIGHTING AFTER A CAPSIZE
Even the best sailors capsize occasionally, so prepare your-
self and the boat for the inevitable. Install a righting line
onto the dolphin striker rod below the mast.
The boat will lose speed as it raises up on one hull and usu-
ally capsizes over slowly. Hang on to the boat, being careful
not to separate yourself from the boat if possible.
As the boat capsizes you may be located in the water or on
the top hull above the water, try to get as fast as possible
onto the bottom hull. It is important to get yourself to the
bottom hull as quickly as possible to prevent the boat from
turning upside down (turtle).
Do not let go of the boat, as the current and the wind
may make it hard or impossible to get back onto the
boat.
Release the main, jib and spinnaker sheets. Reach around
the front crossbar, and throw the righting line over the top
hull. Make sure that the bows of the hulls are facing into the
wind. Move your weight towards the bow to turn the boat
to obtain the proper angle. Be careful not to shift your com-
bined weight too far forward or afterwards as this may
cause the boat to roll over and turn turtle. If the mast is
pointed directly into the wind, the boat may turn over to the
other side when you get the boat upright
Standing even with the front crossbar, the skipper and crew
should grab the righting line, and hike out backwards. You
can tie knots in the righting line to prevent your hands from
slipping during this procedure. If you are single handling,
you may need to carry a righting bag to attain the necessary
weight to the boat upright.
Once the tip of the mast starts to come out of the water, the
boat will right quickly. Be sure to hold onto the righting line
until you can grab the boat and pull yourself up onto the
deck. Be careful to avoid being hit by the dolphin striker as
the boat comes down on top of you. One of the crew should
reboard over the front beam of the catamaran onto the
platform to ensure that the craft can not sail away without
the crew. The remaining crew can be recovered by the side
with the aid of the trapeze wires or crew. Stow the righting
line, organize the sheets, and you are sailing again!
Minimum crew weight required for righting:
Nacra 460 102 kg
Nacra 500 102 kg
Nacra 570 110 kg
Nacra 580 130 kg
Nacra F16 104 kg
Nacra F18 Infusion 140 kg
Nacra 17 116 kg
Nacra F20 Carbon 150 kg
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