Nope Re: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Rhodes22-list Digest, Vol 425, Issue 2

Mary Lou Troy mltroy at verizon.net
Wed Mar 17 11:57:47 EST 2004


Lou asked:
 "I would describe myself as an "intermediate" in terms of skill. Would it make sense to set up the Rhodes with a conventional rig, i.e. non-IMF main and a smaller geneoa to build up my skills until switching to the IMF/175 rig?"

Nope - it's purely a matter of preference and what your ultimate goals are. The IMF main has pluses and minuses but it's a simple rig to sail. When were were purchasing our recycled 1991, Fretless, Stan encouraged us to try the IMF saying if we were unhappy with it he'd swap it out NC. Not sure if he'd still make a deal like that but we went for it and were sold. For simple casual cruising its great. We've used it in high winds and found it easier than putting in reefs and quite reliable. There is a knack to using it but its no more difficult to learn than other simple sailing procedures. Whether or not the 175 genoa is right for you also depends on where and how you sail. The old GBI furler furls reliably - you've seen the discussions on sailing with it. We've had our sails for 6 years now and are starting to think about replacing the GBI furler with something that will allow us to change sails - that's the kind of sailors we've become - but the 175 could easily be the right sail for you. It does not take more skill to sail with the big sail than with a somewhat smaller one. If you do a lot of sailing in light air, you are going to want a larger headsail.

> Also, is the "conventional" rig faster than the IMF/175?

Older, lighter boats are probably faster than newer boats. A "conventional" battened main in the hands of the right sailor is going to be faster on some points of sail than the IMF main. A skilled sailor with the IMF/175 will get there before an intermediate sailor with a conventional rig. A boat with a conventional rig may be able to point higher than an IMF boat in some conditions but it still probably comes down to the skill of the helmsperson.

Does that answer your question? <grin>

Mary Lou
1991 R22 Fretless
Ft. Washington, PA / Swan Creek, MD




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