[Rhodes22-list] Wally, Did You Go Sailing?

[Slim]

Bill,

Sweet!  I was out for a couple hours yesterday too in gusty conditions
except I didn't merely dip the rails, I buried 'em Rummy-style.  I like to
try a bit of X-sailing once in a while when I'm alone and put the boat
through its paces.  Today's winds are gusting to 30 so I think I'll chicken
out.  It's not the sailing that worries me--it's the landing!  Yesterday's
landing was hairy enough.

Slim

On 9/1/05 7:38 AM, "William E. Wickman" <wewickman at duke-energy.com> wrote:

> I stole a couple of hours out on the lake yesterday.  Wind was fairly light
> (as compared to Tuesday's remnants of Katrina) and shifty, but there were
> gusts enough to dip the rail several times.  I really just went out there
> to relax and experiment with sail trim.  When I looked back behind me, I
> noticed another sailboat bearing down on me.  I felt like I was being
> pursued by pirates.
> 
> Ah hell....I couldn't let the challenge go unanswered so I sheeted in and
> concentrated on boat speed.  We were beating up the lake and the other boat
> matched me tack for tack.  I noticed it was a Helms 27.  Oh well, maybe I
> could hold him off.  With each tack the Helms gained a little, but by and
> large I was holding it off pretty well.  Then a few gusts hit and I was
> apparently able climb the puffs to windward better than the Helms and
> started pulling away!  He finally tacked away, conceding the unspoken
> challenge.  I felt proud to have held off a Helms 27 in my Rhodes22.  Great
> boats, these Rhodes.
> 
> I'm looking forward to the fall racing season.
> 
> Bill Wickman
> 
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list