With the Ballast tanks full she is difficult to capsize.

The topmast and mizzen are both sealed carbon tubes, and the main mast is also hollow and sealed. Together these act to prevent her from turning turtle in a capsize situation. Her angle of vanishing stability with the tanks full is 119 degrees – higher than some yachts, but if the tanks are empty she will lie happily on her side awaiting your attention on her centreboard.

For the purposes of the RCD (EU Recreational Craft Directive) we were keen to select the toughest stability tests from the selection available. This effectively meant she had to be recoverable from a full 180 degree inversion, within the time limit of 5 minutes. The RCD is perfectly happy for the tests to be carried out in calm water, which is slightly unrealistic, but better than no capsize test at all.

We did the RCD rests with tanks full, and tanks empty, to ensure she would pass in all conditions. For the full invert we sailed out into Cardigan bay and had to stand on the mast to fully invert her. It is conceivable that wave action could be so bad that a full inversion does occur, so this is a reasonable test.

Once fully inverted another big safety feature automatically kicks in. Her Asymmetric Capsize Buoyancy (ACB) is a real life saver. Boats that will self right from 90 degrees are usually also very stable upside down. The large side deck buoyancy needed for self righting will act like a catamaran when the boat is fully inverted. Swallow boats' ACB system works by flooding one side buoyancy tank when inverted, which destablizes the boat and in about 60 seconds, gives her a noticeable upside down heel angle. The skipper should wait on top of the up turned hull and right the boat by leaning on the centreboard, helping the boat heel to the same side as that induced by the ACB. Once righted, the water in the buoyancy tank floods out though the outboard well via the self draining cockpit floor. Take a look at the video below:

A self draining cockpit is another considerable safety feature. In bad conditions spray and even green waves might come overboard. Most of this can be handled comfortably by the self bailer in the sump aft, but in extreme conditions the water can be drained very fast into the outboard well. This leaves the skipper able to concentrate on the situation in hand, rather than having to worry about bailing or pumping.

We have talked a lot about capsizing, and righting, but getting back in can be a real problem for all but the young and fit. The BayRaider has plenty of positive buoyancy so floats quite high even when swamped. Our solution has been to fit the rudder blade with a permanent step in the trailing edge, set about 12 inches below the surface which acts as a step for re-boarding. The mizzen mast is within easy reach to grab hold of as is the mizzen mast partners.