Talk:Death roll

very early comments
Pictures, sketches or links to video (e.g. with toy models) would really help make this understandable..

+1

A video would be awesome. Also, are Catamarans immune to this? --ejail 04:55, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

Yes, catamarans do not roll like this.

The description for the keel boat appears to be wrong. Broaching to windward cannot cause a gybe because the stern does not pass through the wind. Unless you're thinking of the case where the boat is already sailing by the lee? Which fact would be rather important to mention!

shouldn't there be a discussion/disambiguation about the manoeuvre crocodiles have to kill their prey Jeroenemans 21:15, 1 March 2007 (UTC)
 * I agree, that's what I came here looking for. Yellowking 16:04, 28 May 2007 (UTC)
 * Also what I was looking for. 64.148.243.163 04:40, 12 August 2007 (UTC)

Primary definition
"a list of persons killed in a war or other disaster" is the only definition given in Merriam Webster. A Google search reveals many more references to alligators and crocodiles than to sailing. Snakes also do a death roll when they are desperate to escape, and this should be mentioned too. Kauffner (talk) 02:10, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

Avoidance
Death roll occurs when the helm is unable to control the combination of roll and yaw induced in a sailboat by the combined effect of swell and wind. The first line of defence is for the helm to steer under the mast tip: if the boat rolls to port the helm must steer to port. Second is to ease the main sheets to avoid broaching when the boat is turned by a wave. If these tactics are not enough the spinnaker trimmer must be ready to ease the spinnaker sheet by a metre at a time, as once a broach has been induced the spinnaker will power up drastically inducing upwind yawing moment and enough roll to make the rudder ineffective. It is important not to release the vang(although releasing it will reduce power in the main sail) as this allows the boom to rise under load making the centre of effort of the main sail oscillate with the roll of the boat producing a resonant instability.Johneapriddle (talk) 22:56, 6 July 2011 (UTC)

Definition
If you broach to windward the spinnaker pole will point at the sky, unless you have some very unusual way of rigging your spinnaker. The point about a death roll is the oscillation and the loss of control as waves push the boat from the quarters. Death roll would be, more typically: a windward broach recovered, followed by a leeward broach induced by a following wave (or vice versa). Johneapriddle (talk) 23:09, 6 July 2011 (UTC)

Dubious
The article claims "Most sailors also retract the centerboards of their dinghies while on the run, to reduce drag and increase speed. The lack of resistance to the rolling motion can enhance it." I don't have a quote to substantiate it, but common sailing experience (including my own) has it that lifting the centerboard will actually reduce rolling, letting the boat slide sideways over the water rather than roll it around its longitudinal axis. For the same reason, it is highly advisable to hoist the centerboard prior to jibing. With slim racing boats, failure to do so can lead to inevitable capsizing. I suggest to remove the last sentence altogether. Nettings (talk) 11:17, 7 October 2014 (UTC)

I think that centerboard down provides resistance to rolling motion and dampens oscillations. The current claim that "The lack of resistance to the rolling motion can enhance it." seems valid and even tempers itself with "can", allowing for special cases like the one you've mentioned. Sailing dinghies downwind centerboard up certainly seems to increase longitudinal wobbliness IMO. rigsby (talk) 11:40, 27 March 2019 (UTC)

Suggested edit to address this concern:

Replace: "The lack of resistance to the rolling motion can enhance it."

With: "Depending on the hull design, raising the centerboard may increase or decrease the chance of entering a death roll. The risk is decreased for hulls where raising the centerboard allows the boat to slip sideways through the water when the sail forces would otherwise result in a death roll. The risk is increased for hulls where the raising the centerboard reduces the resistance to rolling laterally thereby increasing the risk of a death roll." Mrichmon (talk) 18:02, 1 April 2016 (UTC)