[Rhodes22-list] Cockpit Under Water

[FNuttersNY at aol.com]

OK OK I am sorry everyone I didn't mean to offend anyyone.  And you guys are 
right name calling was rather useless and unnecessary on my part. However, 
seven  folks on a 22 footer which sails much like a "dingy" especially in rough 
wheather " can go over in a blink.  Those on the wrong side can fly right out 
of the cockpit.  I was a bit surprised to read advice from the list that these 
extra bodies should be used to trim the boat. Unless most of the passengers 
are use to sailing they basically become bystanders and don't anticipate the 
actions of the boat.  Plus that long tiller in the way, lines, sheets and stuff 
under the cockpit benches it gets pretty crowded in a hurry.   Having sailed 
most of my life on SF bay  I have seen a few  boating accidents caused by 
overloading. One in which we had to yank people  out of the water near the GG 
bridge.Water entered the stern at the bottom of swell filled the cockpit  and into 
the cabin  and she was swamped in a second.  We were on a work boat  with a 
harbor pilot and crew rom a tanker.  We were on them right away pulled them 
aboard all 9 on a 25 foot swing keel job. Lucky for them it was slack water because 
the tide there is close to 6 knts on a flood. One minute everything is fine.  
One little thing happens that ordenarelly would be no cause for alarm such as 
a wake from a big boat  or a suden high sustaind gust and panic and tragedy.  
The CG came right away out of Sausilitto and pumped the boat  so we could tow 
her back.  The "unsafe opperation of a vessel in a shiping lane" and "risking 
wellfare of passengers" citation
said it all.  Having spent most of my life in the maritime industry  
sailing,building, repairing, everything from yachts to tankers and everything in 
between it is common knowlege that most  accidents ocure from  overload vessels in 
rough conditions.  So if I over reacted I appologize. But seven people on 
light weight 22 footer iin rough weather is not the safest situation in the world. 
 No mater  how the good old R22 is rated .