[Rhodes22-list] Bahamas
Julie Thorndycraft
rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
Thu, 5 Sep 2002 20:53:12 -0500
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Dan and I made the crossing from Miami to West End, Grand Bahama a year =
ago. We did it on a 34' Beneteau as part of a class - three students, =
one instructor. We left at 5PM and arrived at 11AM. The wind was just a =
bit too high and we kept the diesel in gear with full sails the entire =
way across. We got to dodge freighters, cruise ships, invisible barges, =
etc through the middle of the night.=20
On the return we had following seas off the port side and had to keep =
the engine running in gear with a minimal amount of throttle just to =
keep the back end from being tossed around by the 5-6 foot waves. We =
thought we were making great progress with the knot meter indicating 8.5 =
until we hit the gulf stream and dropped to 2.5 knots. We increased =
throttle to maintain 5 knots. We left Grand Bahama at 4AM and had to =
duck into the ICW in the late afternoon by Fort Lauderdale because we =
knew we would not make Miami. We dropped anchor at 6PM in a swank =
neighborhood and continued on in the morning.
It was a good experience but very tiring - we could only be at the helm =
for an hour at a time on the return because your arms got tired =
wrestling the wheel (no otto or helma to assist). I would think twice =
about doing this trip in anything smaller....
Julie Thorndycraft
'almost a Rhodie'
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Roger Pihlaja=20
To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 11:18 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Bahamas
I stand by my pretrip preparation advice from 2 years ago.
If I were going to make this trip in my Rhodes 22; then, I would =
depart from the Lake Worth Inlet at Palm Beach, FL & enter the Bahamas =
at the West End Port of Entry on Grand Bahama Island. The distance is =
56 nm & the direct bearing is 099 deg M. However, you will be fighting =
the Gulf Stream current almost the entire way across. The Gulf Stream =
flows almost due north @ 2.5 knots average in this region. Assuming =
your Rhodes 22 can average 4 knots; then, you would need to steer about =
131 deg M to compensate for the northerly set of the Gulf Stream current =
& the crossing will take about 14 hours. I would depart at 00:00 & plan =
to arrive at 14:00 the following afternoon. That way, if something goes =
crooked, I would still have approximately 6 - 7 hours of daylight to =
figure it out. You will be sailing in the dark for about 6 hours & out =
of sight of land for about 12 hours if all goes well.
Do not attempt this crossing if the wind is out of the north. When =
the wind direction opposes the flow of the Gulf Stream, the average flow =
rate of the Gulf Stream is reduced. But, the XS momentum of the ocean =
current is converted into a chaotic chop that can easily reach 6 - 8 =
feet in height or more. The Rhodes 22 can be sailed in such conditions, =
but it's very uncomfortable & wet.
Once I was in the Bahamas, I would circumnavigate Grand Bahama Island, =
stopping at Freeport & Port Lucaya. If there was time, I would use the =
Little Abaco Cays as stepping stones to make the crossing to Great Abaco =
Island & circumnavigate it as well. A month would be a reasonable =
amount of time for such a trip.
Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Rik Sandberg=20
To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Bahamas
J.C.
I know there is somebody that has sailed their R 22 to the Bahamas, =
just can't remember who it was.
I'm sure that Roger is probably right on the money with his advice =
in that prior post. But.....there's always one of them buts, =
eh?......after all of that, there are these people who apparently do the =
crossing regularly, in a 15 foot boat. http://www.microcruising.com/ =
and this guy who did the crossing with 2 other people and a dog, in a =
WWPotter 19. (a little crowded for me thank you)
http://potter-yachters.org/stories/bahamas/index.html =20
I don't know, is a WWPotter that much more seaworthy than an R 22??? =
One thing I'm sure most knowledgeable ocean sailing people would bring =
up is the large size of the R 22 cockpit. Most boats that are considered =
good sea boats have a cockpit that will hold a far lesser volume of =
water than an R 22.
Is there some mention of this trip on the R 22 (GB) web site??
Rik
At 07:46 PM 9/4/2002 -0400, you wrote:
The answer is "yes" but the question remains if this is a good =
idea.
=20
Here is Roger's response to the idea from 2 years ago:
=20
Just a data point, for whatever it's worth. Last winter, I crewed =
aboard a
36 foot, center cockpit, ketch on a delivery cruise from Florida =
to the
Bahamas. Most sailboats we encountered in the Bahamas were 36 =
feet long or
bigger. However, there was this one fellow we met. He was =
anchored at
Nassau. His 24 foot sloop had jerry cans & other stuff lashed =
everywhere on
deck. He was singlehanding & still the boat looked CRAMMED!
I've made three Florida/Bahamas Gulf Stream crossings in =
sailboats. One of
these crossings was one of my worst experiences at sea & well =
beyond what
you'd ever want to attempt in a Rhodes 22. But, the other two =
were at the
upper limit of the Rhodes 22's performance envelope. I have =
several
suggestions before you try this however:
1. If your Rhodes 22 has the bow anchor chain hawse pipe, then =
find a way to
plug
the opening or you may take a lot of water down below.
2. Add some foam weather stripping to the underside of the pop top =
& rig up
a
means of securing the pop top down to keep your foam "gasket" =
in
compression.
A company called DeStaco makes a wide variety of dogging =
clamps that
could
be used for this purpose.
3. Before you leave, make several 1/2" thick plywood cutouts in =
the shape of
your
ports, both fixed & opening. Glue a rubber gasket to one side =
of each
of them &
drill matching holes thru them. These plywood pieces will be =
used in
pairs, one
inside & one outside & thru bolted, to plug a port which gets =
blown out
at sea.
4. No matter how you do it, the Gulf Stream crossing will be a =
very long
day.
The weather will be absolutely crucial. Consider leaving in =
the middle
of the
night to give yourself as much daylight as possible on the =
other end.
Consider
taking on an extra crew member for this leg of the trip to =
relieve you.
Consider
installing a tiller pilot. I have an AutoHelm ST1000+ & it =
steers our
Rhodes 22
very well.
5. Get yourself a good safety harness & install solid anchor =
points &
jacklines
on your Rhodes 22.
Good luck!
Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: J Cook=20
To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 7:03 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Bahamas
=20
Has anybody here sailed an R22 to the Bahamas?
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Dan and I made the crossing from Miami to West End, =
Grand=20
Bahama a year ago. We did it on a 34' Beneteau as part of a class - =
three=20
students, one instructor. We left at 5PM and arrived at 11AM. The wind =
was just=20
a bit too high and we kept the diesel in gear with full sails the entire =
way=20
across. We got to dodge freighters, cruise ships, invisible barges, etc =
through=20
the middle of the night. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>On the return we had following seas off the port =
side and had=20
to keep the engine running in gear with a minimal amount of throttle =
just to=20
keep the back end from being tossed around by the 5-6 foot waves. We =
thought we=20
were making great progress with the knot meter indicating 8.5 until we =
hit the=20
gulf stream and dropped to 2.5 knots. We increased throttle to maintain =
5 knots.=20
We left Grand Bahama at 4AM and had to duck into the ICW in the late =
afternoon=20
by Fort Lauderdale because we knew we would not make Miami. We dropped =
anchor at=20
6PM in a swank neighborhood and continued on in the =
morning.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>It was a good experience but very tiring - we could =
only be at=20
the helm for an hour at a time on the return because your arms got tired =
wrestling the wheel (no otto or helma to assist). I would think twice =
about=20
doing this trip in anything smaller....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Julie Thorndycraft</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>'almost a Rhodie'</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dcen09402@centurytel.net =
href=3D"mailto:cen09402@centurytel.net">Roger=20
Pihlaja</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Drhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
=
href=3D"mailto:rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org">rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org</A>=
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, September 05, =
2002 11:18=20
AM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Rhodes22-list]=20
Bahamas</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I stand by my pretrip preparation =
advice from 2=20
years ago.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If I were going to make this trip in =
my Rhodes=20
22; then, I would depart from the Lake Worth Inlet at Palm Beach, =
FL=20
& enter the Bahamas at the West End Port of Entry on Grand Bahama=20
Island. The distance is 56 nm & the direct bearing is 099 =
deg=20
M. However, you will be fighting the Gulf Stream current =
almost the=20
entire way across. The Gulf Stream flows almost due north @ 2.5 =
knots=20
average in this region. </FONT><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>Assuming your=20
Rhodes 22 can average 4 knots; then, you would need to steer about 131 =
deg=20
M to compensate for the northerly set of the Gulf Stream=20
current & the crossing will take about 14 hours. I =
would=20
depart at 00:00 & plan to arrive at 14:00 the following=20
afternoon. That way, if something goes crooked, I would =
still have=20
approximately 6 - 7 hours of daylight to figure it out. You will =
be=20
sailing in the dark for about 6 hours & out of sight of land for =
about 12=20
hours if all goes well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Do not attempt this crossing if =
the wind is=20
out of the north. When the wind direction opposes the flow of=20
the Gulf Stream, the average flow rate of the Gulf Stream is=20
reduced. But, the XS momentum of the ocean current is converted =
into a=20
chaotic chop that can easily reach 6 - 8 feet in height or more. =
The=20
Rhodes 22 can be sailed in such conditions, but it's very =
uncomfortable &=20
wet.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Once I was in the Bahamas, I would =
circumnavigate=20
Grand Bahama Island, stopping at Freeport & Port Lucaya. If =
there=20
was time, I would use the Little Abaco Cays as stepping stones to make =
the=20
crossing to Great Abaco Island & circumnavigate it as well. =
A month=20
would be a reasonable amount of time for such a trip.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Roger Pihlaja</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>S/V Dynamic Equilibrium</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2> </FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dracerrik@rea-alp.com =
href=3D"mailto:racerrik@rea-alp.com">Rik=20
Sandberg</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Drhodes22-list@rhodes22.org=20
=
href=3D"mailto:rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org">rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org</A>=
=20
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, September =
04, 2002=20
8:26 PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Rhodes22-list]=20
Bahamas</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>J.C.<BR><BR>I know there is somebody that has sailed =
their R=20
22 to the Bahamas, just can't remember who it was.<BR><BR>I'm sure =
that=20
Roger is probably right on the money with his advice in that prior =
post.=20
But.....there's always one of them buts, eh?......after all of that, =
there=20
are these people who apparently do the crossing regularly, in a 15 =
foot=20
boat. <A href=3D"http://www.microcruising.com/"=20
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.microcruising.com/</A> and this =
guy who=20
did the crossing with 2 other people and a dog, in a WWPotter 19. (a =
little=20
crowded for me thank you)<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://potter-yachters.org/stories/bahamas/index.html"=20
=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://potter-yachters.org/stories/bahamas/index.html<=
/A> =20
<BR><BR>I don't know, is a WWPotter that much more seaworthy than an =
R 22???=20
One thing I'm sure most knowledgeable ocean sailing people would =
bring up is=20
the large size of the R 22 cockpit. Most boats that are considered =
good sea=20
boats have a cockpit that will hold a far lesser volume of water =
than an R=20
22.<BR><BR>Is there some mention of this trip on the R 22 (GB) web=20
site??<BR><BR>Rik<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>At 07:46 PM 9/4/2002 -0400, you =
wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=3Dcite type=3D"cite" cite=3D""><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman, Times">The answer is "yes" but the =
question remains=20
if this is a good idea.</FONT><BR> <BR><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman, Times">Here is Roger's response to the =
idea from 2=20
years ago:</FONT><BR> <BR>Just a data point, for whatever =
it's=20
worth. Last winter, I crewed aboard a<BR>36 foot, center =
cockpit,=20
ketch on a delivery cruise from Florida to the<BR>Bahamas. =
Most=20
sailboats we encountered in the Bahamas were 36 feet long=20
or<BR>bigger. However, there was this one fellow we =
met. He=20
was anchored at<BR>Nassau. His 24 foot sloop had jerry cans =
&=20
other stuff lashed everywhere on<BR>deck. He was =
singlehanding &=20
still the boat looked CRAMMED!<BR><BR>I've made three =
Florida/Bahamas Gulf=20
Stream crossings in sailboats. One of<BR>these crossings was =
one of=20
my worst experiences at sea & well beyond what<BR>you'd ever =
want to=20
attempt in a Rhodes 22. But, the other two were at =
the<BR>upper=20
limit of the Rhodes 22's performance envelope. I have=20
several<BR>suggestions before you try this however:<BR><BR>1. If =
your=20
Rhodes 22 has the bow anchor chain hawse pipe, then find a way=20
to<BR>plug<BR> the opening or you may take a lot =
of=20
water down below.<BR><BR>2. Add some foam weather stripping to the =
underside of the pop top & rig up<BR>a<BR> =
means of=20
securing the pop top down to keep your foam "gasket"=20
in<BR>compression.<BR> A company called DeStaco =
makes a=20
wide variety of dogging clamps that<BR>could<BR> =
be used=20
for this purpose.<BR><BR>3. Before you leave, make several 1/2" =
thick=20
plywood cutouts in the shape of<BR>your<BR> =
ports, both=20
fixed & opening. Glue a rubber gasket to one side of =
each<BR>of=20
them &<BR> drill matching holes thru =
them. =20
These plywood pieces will be used in<BR>pairs, =
one<BR> =20
inside & one outside & thru bolted, to plug a port which =
gets=20
blown out<BR>at sea.<BR><BR>4. No matter how you do it, the Gulf =
Stream=20
crossing will be a very long<BR>day.<BR> The =
weather=20
will be absolutely crucial. Consider leaving in the =
middle<BR>of=20
the<BR> night to give yourself as much daylight =
as=20
possible on the other end.<BR>Consider<BR> =
taking on an=20
extra crew member for this leg of the trip to relieve=20
you.<BR>Consider<BR> installing a tiller =
pilot. I=20
have an AutoHelm ST1000+ & it steers our<BR>Rhodes=20
22<BR> very well.<BR><BR>5. Get yourself a good =
safety=20
harness & install solid anchor points=20
&<BR>jacklines<BR> on your Rhodes =
22.<BR><BR>Good=20
luck!<BR><BR>Roger Pihlaja<BR>S/V Dynamic=20
Equilibrium<BR><BR> <BR>----- Original Message ----- =
<BR><B>From:</B>=20
<A href=3D"mailto:joscook@msn.com">J Cook</A> <BR><B>To:</B> <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org">rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org</A>=
=20
<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, September 04, 2002 7:03 =
PM<BR><B>Subject:</B>=20
[Rhodes22-list] Bahamas<BR><BR> <BR>Has anybody here sailed =
an R22 to=20
the Bahamas?</BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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