[Rhodes22-list] New Sailor Fears

[elle]

Hi, Bill,
Congrats & welcome to 'da list.' we're a fine group of folk, (much to our dismay  ;^) who are willing to step in w/advice and drink mixes.
I was once the world's chickenest sailor..I loved it but was terrified most of the time. So, In answer to your query, I have several things you can tell him....  I was always convinced that I was going to capsize in our previous boats..all larger than my R22. It was Steve Pettingill, I believe, who years ago patiently explained to me that the wind will push the boat over just so far and then the wind will spill over the top of the sail. (Just don't tell him about knockdowns yet.) 
You can also show him how you can lower the main by lowering the boom & closing the poptop. The BEST single thing you can do (IMHO) is go out on gentle days at first & give him the main sheet. Show him how to release it if he feels uncomfortable...you won't go anywhere...but he'll feel in control & that will help with his unease. 
Good luck & keep us posted.
elle

Beer is good....people are crazy

1992 Rhodes 22    Recycled '06"Watermusic"  {Lady in Red}

--- On Mon, 5/9/11, Bill Pauer <billpauer at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Bill Pauer <billpauer at gmail.com>
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] New Sailor Fears
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Date: Monday, May 9, 2011, 9:54 PM

Hello, Everyone,

My family and I are the proud new owners of our first Rhodes 22 (a  
1980 Rhodes which you may have seen on the list about a month ago).  I  
am working on a list of mechanical questions for the list, but for the  
moment I was hoping for some help with one of my crew.  I have a  
twelve year old daughter and fourteen year old son.  While we don't  
have much sailing experience as a family, my wife has had sailing  
lessons and has actually instructed on small boats and I have sailed  
for many years making it up as I went along.  The trouble I am having  
is convincing my fourteen year old son that the boat is not going to  
capsize.  I would like to say that it can't happen, but I am fairly  
sure that is not the case.  I did read in "The Report on the Rhodes  
22"  on Stan's site that because of the flared sides, the boat will  
not capsize while under sail.
Does anyone have a story that I could share with my son that might  
instill some confidence that the chances of turning turtle and sinking  
to the bottom of the lake are slim to none?
Thanks for your help.

Bill
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