[Rhodes22-list] Beating

[Steve Alm]

Lew,

There are many more experienced sailors here on the list than I, but I'll
get you started.  First,  do you sail with the pop top up?  If so, this will
increase windage and heel and slow your progress to weather.  Next, are your
sails in good shape and not blown out?  If you have the big 175% genny like
I do, you might discover that it doesn't perform as well when it's reefed
in. You also might try bringing the jib sheets inboard of the upper shrouds
if your boat is equipped with the inboard fairleads. But you can only do
this if you're reefed in a bit so the jib will clear the spreaders.  In
light to medium winds, take your main sheet traveler all the way to weather
and set the boom about on the center line.  Make sure your centerboard is
down.  Position yourself and/or crew so the boat has some, but not too much
heel to the lee.  You don't want to be straight up, and you certainly
shouldn't heel to weather.  For good sail shape, the general rule is tight
and flat for higher winds, eased and baggy for light winds.

These are just the basics.  If this all sounds familiar to you, you might
have some other problem.  How is the condition of your hull, centerboard,
rudder?  Anything dragging in the water such as the motor?

Hope this helps,
Slim

On 12/1/03 2:34 PM, "Llewshirl at aol.com" <Llewshirl at aol.com> wrote:

> I have had a Rhodes 22 for a couple of years and my general impression is
> that I can't sail "to weather" as high as I have in other boats I have owned
> or 
> sailed.  In other boats, I have usually been able to tack to about 45 degrees
> off the wind or in any direction other than the 90 degress encompassing the
> direction from which the wind is blowing.
> Does anyone else have similiar experiences?  Is there something I should do
> differently about the fore and aft tilt of the mast, set of sails, tension in
> the backstay etc.? I need help in getting to weather.
> Lew
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