Fwd: [Rhodes22-list] speaking of lightning,

[Mary Lou Troy]

I think this is the message Stan was talking about.

Mary Lou


>From: "stan" <stan at rhodes22.com>
>To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2006 15:43:02 -0400
>
>The plant was surrounded by sailboats - several with masts up - the 
>record still stands - not a single Rhodes hit, only the plant:   The 
>computer mother board fried, one of three 400 amp fuses blown and 
>the plant floor main circuit breaker melted - still no power on the 
>floor but the computer back on line this AM.  Next time we put  a 
>mast on the roof and put the whole plant on a trailer.
>
>When power goes off, baby production goes up.  So with idle labor, 
>we broke water at the ramp to launch our new 20 year old baby (who 
>weighed in at 26'-7") to test the notion that newborns sail 
>instinctively.   A small old outboard got the christened Hampton 
>Rhoads out of the tight ramp harbor - and immediately stopped.  The 
>crew had a reasonable explanation:  They forgot to put gas in the tank.
>
>Actually I was touched by their faith in their captain.  Adrift at 
>sea with an old Tanzer tiller at hand, a discarded set of spars, 
>rigging and sails from a discarded Rhodes 22, a motley crew of non 
>swimmers and non sailors, non English speaking at that, all in a 
>leaking hull with no foam flotation or bilge pump or even a 
>pail.   In addition to a useless motor there were no paddles, flares 
>or cell phone.  It looked like the opportunity to initiate the GB 
>lone job benefit:  Free burial at sea - liberally offered since 
>employees would not have to wait until death to be eligible..
>
>I was not going to throw in the towel (Oops, there was no towel) 
>without at least seeing how she jibed, came about and pointed before 
>trying to sail into our small harbor maize with its prevailing 
>unfavorable wind direction.  The good news: I could forget this 
>still birth and get back to the RCR project.   The bad news: I found 
>my self uncharacteristically ecstatic.  Under canvassed we flew 
>through the water without leaving a wake (or sitting shiver), we 
>turned on a dime (OK, would you believe a quarter) in either 
>direction.  I could discern no slippage.  The performance was 
>flawless as we sailed into the narrow harbor opening, made a sharp 
>starboard move around the end of the breakwater pilings coming about 
>into a wind from behind destined-smash-into-the-dock course, only to 
>make a perfect turn for a gentle dockside landing.  I was going to 
>have to build this dam boat.  All we have to do now is find the 
>money.   A curse on your lightning fears - now that you see what 
>real trouble it has caused.
>
>stan/gbi
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