[Rhodes22-list] Regarding the old Bahamas trip.

[NAPOLI51950 at aol.com]

Dear Hugh,
         My casual remark about the Bahamas seemed to pique some interest. I'll send you some specifics to your regular e-mail address so as not to fill up the list.  In a nutshell,  Ten years ago I sailed my 1976 Rhodes 22 from Ft. Lauderdale over to Bimini vi Great Isacc light and then spent a couple of monts sailing as far south as Georgetown on Great Exuma and as far north as Walker Cay.  I think we stopped and visited about 53 different islands and a couple of dry sand bores.  

Conditions varied from no wind to a couple of 30 knot squalls (we were anchored for the worst of them).  Seas were generally low, 6 feet on the gulf crossing and a few other spots but for the most part much less.  The boat was not heavely modified (the newer ones would need even less changes than I had to make on my old one). 

Certainly crossing the Gulf stream is not to be taken lightly but with due caution and good seamanship, a properly equiped and slightly modified Rhodes is quite capable of doing so. I currently have a 1983 Rhodes and plan to do a repeat of the Bahamas trip after I do some sailing down in the Sea of Cortez and the San Juans.
I looked at a lot of "pocket crusiers" back in '76.  I had spent several years sailing all over the Med and knew what I wanted.  I chose the Rhodes.  Last year when I decided to get another small sailboat I looked at what was on the market in 2003 and had no problem choosing the Rhodes 22 over the competition.  I'll send you a few details about the trip itself  to your regular e-mail address.

Chris Geankoplis
Medfore, OR