Thank you every one for really interesting and useful and contributions. Apart from Jonno’s point (I.E it’s best not dig yourself a hole you cannot get out of), I won’t attempt to summarise them because there is so much to learn from reading them all. However I have a couple of points and questions.
From The Sailing Master (Mr Peers) I’ve learned the best place for the crew in this situation is kneeling just behind the centre board case facing forwards. They should not attempt to counteract the boat rocking unless it is clearly rolled a long way. This position is helpful for several reasons:
a) Crew weigh needs to be at the stern and low down to counteract the bow digging-in and causing the boat to pivot on it.
b) The crew can check the water ballast has not drained out or if necessary fill the tank by opening the main hatch. BTW the filling plug is uselessly slow in this situation. If there is water swilling about the bottom of the boat it can usefully be directed into the tank by opening the main hatch. On Gladys I have reversed the direction of one of the almost useless self bailers to face forward and removed the pivoted plate so it can operate as scoop INTO the tank when deployed. Works well, with a most satisfying fountain of water into the tank.
c) The crew is in a suitable posture for praying to whatever deity floats their boat. Some skippers appeal to Holy Ships but as a not-very-good-Christian, I find Psalm 23 appropriate, especially this version -
http://www.appleseeds.org/sailors_23rd-psalm.htm.
If you don’t have a crew, then its all more difficult and I refer you for help to point c) above and perhaps a drogue. Apart from Rory’s contribution no one much mentions using drogues. I find this interesting, many reputable authors including Slocum, Voss, Smeeton, Dye and Barnes, consider them useful. This also is an interesting reference:
https://books.google.ie/books?id=oJ3aQMG-J1MC&pg=RA3-PA141&lpg=RA3-PA141&dq=slocum+drogues&source=bl&ots=MFU-iCs-gf&sig=CLI-G81hlE1ZUoeX61DrxcVjCeo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi629HaqNbLAhWKbhQKHRIYD4oQ6AEIITAB#v=onepage&q=slocum%20drogues&f=falseDespite all this literature I have not knowingly met anyone with real life experience of them. I would have thought that deploying a drogue from the stern (strongly made (not just a bucket), well attached and deployed without jerking and not into breaking seas) would usefully slow and stabilise the boat.
Does anyone have strong views or real-life experience of drogues?
Matthew
BR20 Gladys