R22 Discussion Group

Geoff,
Thanks for sharing. Get used to the fact that people are going to crawl all 
 over your boat at every opportunity. It's the price you pay for having 
such a  unique boat. Mobile Bay is a great venue for the R22. I'm jealous.

Rummy

In a message dated 3/15/2011 10:14:14 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
geoffreylfarrell at gmail.com writes:

Okay  Rummy. I should be sailing right now but I have been worn down by  
your
appeals for sailing conversation. But, I am going to keep this short  
because
I really do want to go out for a sail soon.

It took me three  days to prep the boat for launching because people kept
coming over to see  the boat, crawl through it, admire it, etc. I felt like 
I
was displaying  her at a boat show.

The launch went smoothly; we didn’t even need the  extension. It was a bit
unnerving as somehow just about everyone in our  condo development got wind
of the launch and either showed up at the ramp  or lined the sides of the
marina as I motored to the slip. I thought I was  a float (afloat?) in a
parade.

We stepped the mast on the water and  it came up without a hitch, although I
won’t admit how long it took me to  complete the rigging process. One very
encouraging thing- after we were  done I had a long time sailor, captain, 
and
racer come to check out the  rigging and he said he wouldn’t adjust
anything we did without first going  for a sail and observing the rigging.
That made me feel good.

First  sail I was a bit sloppy but the boat sailed like a dream despite  my
ineptitude. My wife and I could handle the tiller with just one finger.  I
completely forgot to lower the CB until we had been out a couple of  hours.
So much fun.

We've been sailing at every opportunity. I was  hesitant (afraid) to let the
full 175 out during the first three or so  sails. But, then I finally got up
the nerve, and, wow. It is exhilarating!  I can't believe how well this boat
sails. It seems so well balanced. During  our last sail (Sunday) I used the
captain's seats for the first time. Now  that's living.

All our sailing thus far has been in Mobile Bay. It's a  very large bay. My
short term goal is to start sailing early enough in the  day so that I can 
go
far enough to see the other shore and still return by  sunset. So far I
haven't been able to see the western shore but the chart  shows it so I'm
assuming it's there.

My wife Joyce has really taken  to sailing and is enjoying it very much. I
think she had a worse case  scenario in her mind but has been pleasantly
surprised by the stability and  comfort of the boat and the pure fun of
sailing.

I've added pics to  my album  at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/geoffreylfarrell/Rhodes22?authkey=Gv1sRgCKL8sbT
Olv-LPg&feat=directlink

Geoff

The Rhodes 22 Discussion Group

R22RumRunner at aol.com

First few sails