[Rhodes22-list] R22 and "Burying The Rail"

[Jay Friedland]

Lou, Bill, etc.
Just catching up on the list, and saw the comment more than once. Lou, 
thanks for the opportunity to respond. Bill E., it must have been some 
discussions we've had prior, but I will always try to attain your 
challenge of 'planing' the Rhodes at 6.5+ kts. (7-8?) and have come 
close often. I am at heart a non-racing cruiser who believes in sailing 
balanced and efficiently.

Several times recently we've had up to 5 guys (avg. to 1,000 lbs. on 
the rail and seat) in 25+ winds and found the balance for 5.5-6 + kts. 
average with reefed sails. Rob (Baldi) and I have been known to take 
either one's boat out with an impending storm or blow, and flown with 
the storm finding our groove. Heeling v. burying the rail in many of 
these cases actually had the boat balanced and moving well. There are 
very few cases when I can use the centerboard fully to offset the wind 
with an average depth of 2-3 feet. We have gusts frequently in excess 
of 8-10 kts. and compensate accordingly, but taking any water on hasn't 
happened in years.

I've got to believe it's more perception combined with maybe a little 
oversight on my part when there's extensive conversation with the crew. 
Efficiency with the knotmeter is the best gauge I use of the boat's 
performance and, I do take pains (reefing at the slightest overpowering 
wind) to keep the boat balanced. With an inclinometer on the kickboard, 
typically I don't exceed 15° (mostly 10° standard) and also easily find 
the boat's sweet spot for any reach. This year and last I made a 
conscious effort to use the traveler extensively for quick adjustments 
for puffs, then making necessary sail changes. I have used the boom 
dropping less this year as the first reef point, with many more less 
experienced crews- a lot of demos and lessons for newbies. Looking too 
busy in the cockpit with sail changes could also be overwhelming to 
first timers, but use it only when tweaking for speed is our goal or 
showing the ease of making that move for gaining stability.

Lou, if i remember on our second time out, being on a beam to broad 
reach, intermittent gusts were causing the boat to round up at times 
when you were at the helm. I thought we compensated and then changed 
course across the bay, but we also had limited depth at low tide. So 
like all situations, it's a compromise, but maintaining control and 
sailing efficiently are starting points.

With over 60 different people on board this year, including many young 
kids, and over 800 knots logged, accommodating them all and sending 
each off with them asking for a return visit (or to buy the boat) is 
the best I can do. Sloppiness in sail handling has no place on 
"Wanderlust" and I'd hang it up if efficiency/loss of control weren't 
my top goal here.

Jay


On Nov 22, 2004, at 12:30 PM, Loumoore at aol.com wrote:

> Bill and Roger and others
>
> Thanks for the comments!  The R 22 sounds like the boat for us--we 
> want a
> boat requires input in wind.  (Jay--hope you are not offended about 
> comment about
> rail in water.  For the record, in my view Jay is a first-rate skipper 
> and an
> extremely generous guy!)
>
> I was intrigued by a comment about "planning."  How do you get the 
> R-22 on a
> plane?  9 kts?  Bill are you pulling my leg?
>
> Thanks again,
> Lou Moore
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>