There are several reasons that you may find your boat in other than an up-right position:

          - You tried to sail it in a hurricane.

          - You were run over by a baby oil tanker.

          - You were showing off for your boyfriend (or girlfriend).

          - You were accosted by a lovesick whale.

          - You wanted to empty your cockpit.


Regardless of the reason, you will want to know how to get it bottom side down again.  Once you have surfaced and returned to your senses, take your bearings and find your boat.  Swim around the boat until you find the centerboard (which is now in a horizontal position.)

          - Reach up to the high side of the boat and grab the side flange with one hand.

          - Place the other hand on the top of the centerboard about halfway between the hull
            and the tip.

          - Throw your weight onto the centerboard.

          - It will take a few seconds for the wing to empty the water out of it, but the boat
            will quickly bob upright.

NOTE: Do not apply your weight to the tip of the centerboard. It will cause undue strain on it, and possibly result in damage. 

NOTE: Most people are able to re-enter the boat from the side. Only as a last resort, unsnap the windshield and go in over the bow.



Sundry Hints and Information

     - If your boat keeps slipping sideways, your centerboard is not down.

     - If steering is hard, your rudder is not down and cleated.

     - FOR PETE'S SAKE, when you are coming ashore --- don't forget to uncleat your rudder.

     - Tacking is turning into the wind to start onto a new  tack.

     - Jibing is turning away from the wind to take a new tack. You can jibe quite safely with
       a WINGSAILER, but on a standard sailboat you can demast the boat in about one second,
       if you don't do it just right, and knock your block off.

     - Never get into the boat when it is on dry land -- it can damage the hull.

     - Never pick the wing up by the slat - take hold of the mast or the trailing edge
       when lifting the wing.