[Rhodes22-list] Watermusic sings!

[Michael D. Weisner]

Elle,
My two cents: the best place to be while sailing is feet on the cockpit 
bench and bottom high up on the rail, tiller extension and main sheet in 
hand.  Do they make a wheel extension for your configuration?  Can you 
easily release the main from your seat?

Slim,
The odds of hitting a buoy in open water while under sail are truly 
astronomical.  I have the same problem with snagging lobster pot buoys on 
the centerboard and rudder while in LIS.  What are the odds?

Mike
s/v Shanghaid'd Summer ('81)

From: "Slim" <stevenalm at comcast.net> Saturday, January 27, 2007 2:32 PM
> Elle,
>
> Trust me, you'll be able to see fine sitting on the cockpit benches.  My
> wife is only a tad over five feet and she has no trouble.  You don't
> necessarily have to have a 360 degree view of the horizon at ALL times. 
> For
> one thing, you can't see what is blocked from view by the sails no matter
> where you sit so once in a while you have to move around and take a peek,
> but then you can sit back down and relax.
>
> Have you considered where to sit when the boom is in the lowered
> position,the so-called first reef for heavier winds?  Your view to leeward
> is more obstructed and even a short person cannot see under the lowered
> boom.
>
> My point is of course you have to be vigilant and watchful but unless 
> you're
> in heavy traffic you don't have to see everything everywhere all the time.
> After all, we're only going 3-6 knots.  What could possibly go wrong? 
> 8-)
> I admit I did hit a buoy once sailing alone at night.  What are the odds?
>
> Slim
>
> On 1/27/07 11:01 AM, "elle" <watermusic38 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Slim,
>>
>> I always prefer sitting behind the wheel...standing if conditions warrant 
>> to
>> be able to move to the windward side.I won't be able to see sitting on 
>> either
>> cockpit bench...No extension...I'll have to let someone else steer if I 
>> want
>> to sit on high....when we had our first boat with a tiller I did just 
>> what you
>> described...carrying my helm pillow with me.;^)
>>
>> Footrests are not an obstacle for me...but anyone much larger than will 
>> have
>> longer legs & hence will not need the footrests....;^)
>>
>> elle
>>
>> Slim <stevenalm at comcast.net> wrote:
>> Elle,
>>
>> I usually prefer to sit down in the cockpit rather than up on the gunnels
>> and I'll bet you'll find it very comfortable steering with the wheel 
>> sitting
>> on the port or starboard cockpit benches as well. Depending on 
>> conditions,
>> you usually want to tack your body for ballast--esp. single-handing--and 
>> be
>> prepared for lots of time when you won't want to be in the binnacle seat.
>> But what I really like is that without a tiller in the way, crossing over
>> should be less cumbersome but the footrests might be a trip hazard.
>>
>> Do you have some kind of extension to reach the wheel at those times you
>> want to sit up on the gunnels?
>>
>> Slim
>>
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