[Rhodes22-list] Sailing season reflections

[keith burkhardt]

I thought with all the political waggling ...  a little reflection of my first season experiencing the freedom of a Rhodes should be shared.  I must admit that the first sail with my entire family breathlessly waiting to sail had the center board fall off !  Thanks to Stan two weeks latter a new one was installed.  With that said the boat has sailed in lake Erie in all conditions.  One evening with just  breath of air a good friend and I ghosted by the Entire Edgwater yacht club Tarten Ten fleet.  It was quite a moment us sipping on Rum and cokes with blarring brazilian jazz music slipping past the fleet.  The looks of astonishment was quite humerous.  As my confidence in the boat grew the "cruise " to Mentor and back was the climax of this season.  A 25 mile open water cruise one way and return.  The boat handled the lake beautifully...especially the return trip a broad reach in 20 mph wind with 3 to6 ft waves on the quarter beam>  The boat averaged 7.2 mph and " surfed" to 9.8 mph>  It was a fantastic day.  My crew could not get over how"big" the boat felt....I will always remember this leg as we were sailing into a cruiising fleet beating to the Mentor Harbor as we left.  Finally having the boat  just 8 minutes from the office has allowed plenty of 2 hour sails in the early evening ... I just returned one from tonight.   You know Republican or Democrat election season or not ---- we all really benefit having the freedom to enjoy our Rhodes... well the last question for the group I have is--- We have just found out I am relocating to the Minneapolis area  are there any Rhodies in this area?  Has anyone sailed lake Minnitonka? thanks Keith