Hi Roger:
Thanks for the comments. I hope those who have an IMF and a 170 will chime in.
Cheers,
Shawn
S/V Sweet Baboo

On Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 8:27 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:

> Hi Shawn,
>
> In my experience, the Rhodes 22 develops weather helm under full sail as
> it heels.  The solution is to reduce sail area aft of the center of lateral
> resistance; ie, reduce mainsail area 1st.  My conventional mainsail has 3
> jiffy reef points.  Because the genoa’s sail area is so far forward, the
> boat won’t develop weather helm as it heels over.  In fact, you have to be
> careful not to carry this strategy so far as to develop lee helm by having
> too little mainsail area relative to the foresail area.  Balanced sail area
> fore and aft is the key.  Unlike most sailboats, the Rhodes 22 can be setup
> to sail with neutral helm even heeled over with the leeward rail in the
> water.
>
> The boat is fastest when sailed as level as possible.  It is really like a
> big sailing dingy.  If you are consistently sailing with the rail in the
> water; then, you need more weight on the windward rail &/or less sail area,
> consistent with the above discussion re weather/lee helm.  By keeping the
> fore/aft sail area balanced, the boat won’t tend to round up or broach when
> knocked down by a gust.
>
> Roger Pihlaja
> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> 1978. Sanford, MI
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Jul 24, 2026, at 5:15 PM, Shawn Boles <shawn.sustain at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all:
> >
> > A gentleman on the Facebook Rhodes site posted the following:
> > Yes
> > I have owned my Rhodes for 33 years after Stan built it for me. He
> refused
> > to take my order at the Annapolis Boat Show and insisted that I come to
> > Edenton to sail a Rhodes before I bought a new one. During that sail in
> > miserable weather he said, "When to wind is too high, roll up the main
> and
> > reef the Genoa." Best sailing advice I ever had.
> >
> >
> > This is the first I've heard of this tactic. I would have expected it to
> be
> > in Stan's manual. I would welcome comments from others on the list.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Shawn
> > S/V Sweet Baboo
>