[Rhodes22-list] How to Come About

[Bill Effros]

Lou,

The Rhodes 22 is a completely unique boat with a set of features not available on any other boat.  If these features are right for you, you will be thrilled with the boat.  Because the boat is truly unique, many of the "tips" "pointers" "warnings" and "rules" you may have read elsewhere simply don't apply.  

There is no trick to coming about with the 175 on a Rhodes -22.  Most people simply release it too early.

You are sitting in the captain's seat on the high side of the boat.  (Get the captain's seats.)

On the previous tack you have led the jib sheet around the winch on the low side, where the jib is deployed, and then once around the winch on the high side, and then into the clam cleat.  The line goes straight across the cockpit.

Let us say you are sitting on the port side, in your captain's seat.  You have the hiking stick for your tiller in your right hand.  You have a drink in your left hand.  Your left arm is on the padding on the stern rail which functions like the arm of an extremely comfortable arm chair.  Your feet are splayed out on top of the cockpit seats.  Music is playing on your stereo.  For some reason you decide to tack.

Push the tiller toward the sail.

Now you must make a momentous decision.  Will you switch captain's seats after you tack?  If so, you should place your drink in the cup holder on the starboard stern rail--which will force you to get out of your captain's seat on the port side.  If not, you may remain seated while you place your drink in the cup holder on the port stern rail.  Failure to anticipate this question can leave you in a captain's seat with your drink on the other side of the boat!  This is the trickiest part of the maneuver.

At some point you will notice that the boom has moved from the starboard side to the port side of the boat.  It moved gently across, and did not hit your head.  There was no drama.  There was no pandemonium.

You will also notice that the huge belly of the 175 jib, still firmly cleated, has sagged across the boat, and you can see it is helping to pull the bow about, even before the boom switches sides.

If you sheeted the jib too tightly around the shrouds, the 175 won't help you come about.  Slowly loosen the sheet (remember it is cleated right below your drinking hand, and you may have to put your drink down--see above for caution.)  Wait for the boat to come about.

Please note, you do not fully release the jib until after the boat has come about.  The boat is now sailing with the main full, and the jib fighting to deploy fully on the other side of the boat.  Slowly release the jib on what is now the high side, and pull in the line on what is now the low side.  If you decided to stay in your original captain's chair, you are still sitting in it, with all of the lines and controls within reach for this and every subsequent tack.  If not, you must wrap the jib sheet around the winch on what is now the low side, and feed it to the winch and cleat on what will be the high side where you will be sitting.

In either case, both jib lines are in your hands.  You release one in a controlled manner, and pull the other.  The jib does not drag across the foredeck, and it does not hang up on the shrouds.  (I don't have rollers or covers on any shrouds.)  It behaves more like a kite over which you have complete control, as it floats over the foredeck from one side to the other.

After you've done this a few times, it starts to look like everything is happening at once.  But it isn't.  Never release the jib until after the boom has gone across and the main is full, and you will never miss a tack.  Don't let the jib sheet go all at once or you will not be able to pull in the jib sheet on the other side quickly enough, and it will get wet.  

If this fails to work, there are only 2 possible reasons: either there is too little or too much wind.  But not to worry.  Nothing is lost.  Pull the hiking stick toward you, and away from the sails.  Release the jib sheet, and furl the jib! (Maintain tension on the jib line so the line wraps around the roller furler drum properly.)  Pull in the main sheet as far as it will go.  Gibe! (or Gybe! or Jibe! or Jybe!--I'm never sure which one it is.)

This always works, and will always enable you to come about.  The boat is strongly built, and this will not hurt either the rigging or the sails.  The boom will travel a short distance from one side to the other with a loud "pop".  Release the sheet on the main, and redeploy both the main and the jib on the correct side.

The 175 should never, ever become fouled on the foredeck or on the shrouds.  If it does, chalk it up to operator error.

A lot of words, but a simple procedure that always works.

Always remember Stan's words:  "This is a sailboat.  Let the wind do the work"

Bill Effros








----- Original Message ----- 
From: Loumoore at aol.com 
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org 
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 8:32 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Rhodes22-list Digest, Vol 425, Issue 1


Hello everyone, 

I have a quick question.  (I should mention I am only a prospective buyer and have not yet sailed on a Rhodes.)  Because of the size of the 175 and substantial overlap, what is the procedure for coming about?  Are special procedures necessary with the full genoa?  Thanks in advance for you help and patience.

Lou Moore  
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