[Rhodes22-list] Watermusic sings!

[Slim]

Elle,

Trust me, you'll be able to see fine sitting on the cockpit benches.  My
wife is only a tad over five feet and she has no trouble.  You don't
necessarily have to have a 360 degree view of the horizon at ALL times.  For
one thing, you can't see what is blocked from view by the sails no matter
where you sit so once in a while you have to move around and take a peek,
but then you can sit back down and relax.

Have you considered where to sit when the boom is in the lowered
position,the so-called first reef for heavier winds?  Your view to leeward
is more obstructed and even a short person cannot see under the lowered
boom.

My point is of course you have to be vigilant and watchful but unless you're
in heavy traffic you don't have to see everything everywhere all the time.
After all, we're only going 3-6 knots.  What could possibly go wrong?   8-)
I admit I did hit a buoy once sailing alone at night.  What are the odds?

Slim

On 1/27/07 11:01 AM, "elle" <watermusic38 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Slim,
>  
> I always prefer sitting behind the wheel...standing if conditions warrant to
> be able to move to the windward side.I won't be able to see sitting on either
> cockpit bench...No extension...I'll have to let someone else steer if I want
> to sit on high....when we had our first boat with a tiller I did just what you
> described...carrying my helm pillow with me.;^)
>  
> Footrests are not an obstacle for me...but anyone much larger than will have
> longer legs & hence will not need the footrests....;^)
>  
> elle
> 
> Slim <stevenalm at comcast.net> wrote:
> Elle,
> 
> I usually prefer to sit down in the cockpit rather than up on the gunnels
> and I'll bet you'll find it very comfortable steering with the wheel sitting
> on the port or starboard cockpit benches as well. Depending on conditions,
> you usually want to tack your body for ballast--esp. single-handing--and be
> prepared for lots of time when you won't want to be in the binnacle seat.
> But what I really like is that without a tiller in the way, crossing over
> should be less cumbersome but the footrests might be a trip hazard.
> 
> Do you have some kind of extension to reach the wheel at those times you
> want to sit up on the gunnels?
> 
> Slim
> 
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