[Rhodes22-list] Bullshit.

[Bill Effros]

Roger,

I use a hand held anemometer, also, and, like you, I know people often overestimate wind speed.  But, again, like you, I do not.

The mistake we sometimes make is in thinking that all of our boats and conditions are the same.  But, as I recall, your boat does not have IMF, your mainsail has battens, you do not have a 175 genny, your boat is considerably lighter in weight than boats of more recent vintage, you do not normally sail in currents, and you do not normally sail in conditions where you can stay on a single tack for hours on end in a steady, non-gusting wind.

"Bullshit" is rather a strong technical term when so many different factors could be involved.

I asked Wally if he has a standard or IMF main because in my experience it is the main sail that controls heel, and the genny that provides the power on my boat.  In strong winds I roll up the main far enough so the boat sails upright.  Sometimes this results in a stupid looking "hanky" coming out of my IMF slot.  I leave the 175 all the way out.  There isn't another boat on Long Island Sound that has its sails set even remotely like mine--but my boat goes like a bat out of hell--in total comfort, completely under control.

I don't like to lower the boom, and rarely do so.  I reduce main sail size instead.  I don't race, I don't sail triangular courses.  I can set an interesting tack and stay with it all day, and with any luck I can reverse the tack and sail all the way home.

If Wally had said he has a standard mail sail, I would not necessarily recommend the 175 for his boat.  But since he says he has the IMF, I would.  The race committees are right.  The 175 genny is going to make the boat a faster boat.  

Many people don't know how fast they're going through the water, either.  They tend to confuse discomfort with speed.  It feels much faster when you are petrified about tipping over.  But an R-22 is designed to sail upright, and if you can measure the speed you will see it goes faster upright than heeled, all other conditions being equal.  Ask Jay about this.

Furthermore, the characteristics of a fully extended 175 genny outside the shrouds are substantially different from the characteristics of a 125 fully extended genny inside the shrouds.

If it is important to me to point higher I will move the sail inside shrouds, but the amount of sail available in those conditions is substantially less than is available with smaller sails cut to the purpose.

Returning from all these digressions to what is actually my main point: because we are all owners of Rhodes-22 sailboats we frequently forget that there are substantial and important differences between our boats.  I don't have the time to mention it every time I see it, but it disturbs me when I see forceful writers or experienced sailors try to bludgeon others into accepting their points of view, which may not be valid for all other members of the list.

Bill Effros











----- Original Message ----- 
From: Roger Pihlaja 
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list 
Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2004 10:16 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Bullshit.


Rummy,

It is when folks claim things that are physically impossible.  The force
available from the wind on the sails is proportional to the
[Wind Speed]^2.  How is it that my Rhodes 22 is healed over at 30 deg with
the rails awash at about 12 -15 knots of wind when sailing an upwind beat &
yet other Rhodes 22's claim to be able to carry full sail up to 20 knots?
This means that; somehow, these other Rhodes 22's are able to stand up
against a heeling force that is [20]^2 / [15]^2 = 1.78X the heeling force
that knocks my Rhodes 22 down on its rail.  I don't think so!  The more
likely explanation is incorrect wind speed estimation.  Since I use a hand
held anemometer and calibrate every year, I believe my data.  Again, get
yourself an anemometer, measure the wind speed, & show me your data.  We can
argue until the cows come home, but I won't believe your anecdotal examples
over my own data.  I think you will be surprised how much you are
overestimating the wind speed.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: <R22RumRunner at aol.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2004 9:22 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Bullshit.


> Dear Roger,
> The next time you are in this area, stop in and let's go sailing. Until
then,
> Bullshit is not an appropriate term to be used on this list. You bring the
> rum.
>
> Rummy
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>


__________________________________________________
Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list