[Rhodes22-list] The Rhodes 22 As An "Offshore" Cruising Boat
Roger Pihlaja
rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
Fri, 6 Sep 2002 11:48:14 -0400
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Hi Everybody,
We've had this discussion before on the list as to whether the Rhodes 22 =
can be used "offshore". We've even had lengthy discussions of what =
"offshore" means.
Well, clearly nobody is about to attempt to circumnavigate the earth in =
a Rhodes 22. Even an ocean crossing, which would involve weeks at sea, =
is probably too much. But, explain to me what's different about sailing =
in the Bahama Islands vs. sailing along some remote stretch of the =
United States coastline, the Great Lakes, or in the Florida Keys? There =
are enough islands & destinations in the northern Bahama Islands, each =
one less than a day's sail from each other, to make for a great cruising =
vacation. But, to get to & from the Bahama Islands by the route I =
suggested in my previous post, you would have to be willing to wait in =
Florida & the West End for a suitable weather window. My family has =
done extensive wilderness cruising on the Great Lakes & it's no =
different. We routinely pack 2 - 3 extra days rations along on a Great =
Lakes cruise to allow for weather related layover days. Patience to =
wait for suitable conditions is simply a fundamental ingredient in this =
sort of cruising. Crossing the Gulf Stream in a Rhodes 22 is definitely =
at the upper edge of the boat's capability envelope. I certainly =
couldn't guarantee a pleasant or comfortable Gulf Stream crossing. But, =
given a suitable weather window with a capable crew on board & the boat =
properly prepared, I think it's doable.
This sort of voyaging in a Rhodes 22 has more in common with remote =
wilderness backpacking than with big boat cruising. You have to learn =
to be self sufficient; plan all aspects of the voyage; posses the proper =
skills - sailing, navigation, First Aid, weather forecasting, etc; set =
the boat up properly; plan the meals & the use of other consumables such =
as fuel & water. The whole trip becomes a series of calculated risks =
with contingency plans A,B, & C at every step of the way. At this =
level, factoring weather into the equation, even the possibility of a =
hurricane, becomes just another part of the process. Obviously, this =
sort of cruising is not everybody's cup of tea & it's definitely not for =
the faint of heart or a beginner. But, this is the manner in which some =
people, myself & sons included, choose to use their small boats. I =
thank God our society has not yet reached the point where the do-gooders =
have made it impossible to play in this manner. Richard, please excuse =
my bluntness, but I tend to chafe at such intrusions into my personal =
liberty. I think I know far better than you what the risks are, what =
Dynamic Equilibrium, my sons, & I are capable of accomplishing, & I =
neither need or want your advice. If I screw up, then I am also =
prepared to accept the consequences.
There are a thousand things that could go wrong on this sort of trip. =
You try to prepare & plan it out as best as you can beforehand. But, at =
some point, the trip is all about having sufficient confidence in =
yourself, your crew, & your equipment to go & do it. If your =
personality isn't setup that way, then you will never understand & you =
should stay closer to home.
Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hi Everybody,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>We've had this discussion before on the =
list as to whether the Rhodes 22 can be used "offshore". =
We've=20
even had lengthy discussions of what "offshore" means.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Well, clearly nobody is about to =
attempt to=20
circumnavigate the earth in a Rhodes 22. Even an ocean =
crossing,=20
which would involve weeks at sea, is probably too much. But, =
explain to me=20
what's different about sailing in the Bahama Islands vs. sailing along =
some=20
remote stretch of the United States coastline, the Great Lakes, or =
in the=20
Florida Keys? There are enough islands & destinations in the =
northern=20
Bahama Islands, each one less than a day's sail from each other, to make =
for a=20
great cruising vacation. But, to get to & from the Bahama =
Islands by=20
the route I suggested in my previous post, you would have to be willing =
to wait=20
in Florida & the West End for a suitable weather window. My =
family has=20
done extensive wilderness cruising on the Great Lakes & it's no=20
different. We routinely pack 2 - 3 extra days rations along on a =
Great=20
Lakes cruise to allow for weather related layover days. Patience =
to wait=20
for suitable conditions is simply a fundamental ingredient in this sort =
of=20
cruising. Crossing the Gulf Stream in a Rhodes 22 is definitely at =
the=20
upper edge of the boat's capability envelope. I certainly =
couldn't=20
guarantee a pleasant or comfortable Gulf Stream crossing. But, =
given a=20
suitable weather window with a capable crew on board & the boat =
properly=20
prepared, I think it's doable.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>This sort of voyaging in =
a Rhodes 22 has=20
more in common with remote wilderness backpacking than with big boat=20
cruising. You have to learn to be self sufficient; plan all =
aspects of the=20
voyage; posses the proper skills - sailing, navigation, First Aid, =
weather=20
forecasting, etc; set the boat up properly; plan the meals & the use =
of=20
other consumables such as fuel & water. The whole trip becomes =
a=20
series of calculated risks with contingency plans A,B, & C at =
every=20
step of the way. At this level, factoring weather into the =
equation, even=20
the possibility of a hurricane, becomes just another part of the =
process. =20
Obviously, this sort of cruising is not everybody's cup of tea & =
it's=20
definitely not for the faint of heart or a beginner. But, this is =
the=20
manner in which some people, myself & sons included, choose to use =
their=20
small boats. I thank God our society has not yet reached the point =
where=20
the do-gooders have made it impossible to play in this =
manner. =20
Richard, please excuse my bluntness, but I tend to chafe at such =
intrusions into=20
my personal liberty. I think I know far better than you what the =
risks=20
are, what Dynamic Equilibrium, my sons, & I are capable of =
accomplishing, & I neither need or want your advice. If I =
screw up,=20
then I am also prepared to accept the consequences.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>There are a thousand things that could =
go wrong on=20
this sort of trip. You try to prepare & plan it out as =
best as=20
you can beforehand. But, at some point, the trip is all about =
having sufficient confidence in yourself, your crew, & =
your=20
equipment to go & do it. If your personality isn't setup that =
way,=20
then you will never understand & you should stay closer to=20
home.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Roger Pihlaja</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>S/V Dynamic =
Equilibrium</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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