[Rhodes22-list] First Time Racing

[Bob Keller]

Didn't the skipper consider rigging a preventer to help control the mast?  I 
would never sail downwind in those conditions without one...
Bob K
Yankee Clipper


>From: "David Walker" <david.walker5 at comcast.net>
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] First Time Racing
>Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 21:52:58 -0400
>
>Wow, sounds like there might have been as much yelling going one as before,
>but now coming from the crew.  An uncontrolled jibe on a J boat can be
>dangerous as you found out.  Your skipper really to get more experience
>before doing that again.
>
>Dave Walker
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ronald Lipton" <lipton at fnal.gov>
>To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 9:05 PM
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] First Time Racing
>
>
> > To change the subject, I had my first racing experience last Saturday.  
>I
> > decided to
> > get into it by crewing before I had a go myself.  It was a J-24 owned by 
>a
> > woman
> > who formerly crewed for her husband but decided to keep the yelling down
>by
> > getting her own boat.  She had raced a couple of times before but still 
>is
> > pretty inexperienced.  Besides me there was another first-time racer
> > and an experienced captain of another J-24 who was not taking his own 
>boat
> > out that day.
> >
> > It was quite an introduction.  Winds were 20-30 mph with gusts to 40.
> > The boat really flew.  One boat was knocked down and parted it's main
> > halyard.  Our skipper's husband's boat tore it's spinnaker.  We had
>problems
> > as well.  Our spinnaker was incorrectly packed and came up twisted.  It
> > then tore the ring holding the pole off the mast.  We gave up on the
> > spinnaker
> > for the day.  Our skipper didn't quite get the idea of a controlled 
>gybe,
> > even
> > after a couple of explanations.  The J-24 mast is only about 12" off the
> > deck
> > with the big mainsail so an uncontolled gybe can be quite dangerous.  I
> > huddled
> > on the floor of the cockpit when we were anywhere close to directly
> > downwind.
> > Another crewmember did't get low enough and caught a glancing on the top
> > of the head.  Blood everywhere.  Boy those head wounds bleed.  After 
>some
> > convincing our skipper agreed to turn around and head for harbor.  The
>wind
> > was blowing directly out of the harbor entrance and it took some time to
> > work our way in.  The little 4 hp motor was no help and we turned it off
> > when
> > we noticed here was no water telltale stream.  We ended up getting towed
>in
> > by the skipper's husband.
> >
> > In the end all crew survived and we did not drop the boat when we lifted
>it
> > back
> > onto it's cradle.  As much fun as the high winds were I think I will 
>wait
> > for lighter
> > winds for a second try on that boat.  On the other hand I learned enough
> > about
> > racing that with a couple more trips I am confident that I wouldn't
>embarass
> > myself when I enter with the Rhodes.
> >
> > Ron Lipton
> > Empress of Blandings
> > Michigan City, Indiana
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>__________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list

_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*  
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus