[Rhodes22-list] Sailing under jib alone.

[Richard Beytagh]

~~~ _/) ~~~

Richard Beytagh
Phone: 828 337 0180


On Sat, Jul 25, 2026 at 2:40 PM Shawn Boles <shawn.sustain at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Roger:
> Thanks for the comments. I hope those who have an IMF and a 170 will chime
> in.
> Cheers,
> Shawn
> S/V Sweet Baboo
>
> On Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 8:27 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi Shawn,
> >
> > In my experience, the Rhodes 22 develops weather helm under full sail as
> > it heels.  The solution is to reduce sail area aft of the center of
> lateral
> > resistance; ie, reduce mainsail area 1st.  My conventional mainsail has 3
> > jiffy reef points.  Because the genoa’s sail area is so far forward, the
> > boat won’t develop weather helm as it heels over.  In fact, you have to
> be
> > careful not to carry this strategy so far as to develop lee helm by
> having
> > too little mainsail area relative to the foresail area.  Balanced sail
> area
> > fore and aft is the key.  Unlike most sailboats, the Rhodes 22 can be
> setup
> > to sail with neutral helm even heeled over with the leeward rail in the
> > water.
> >
> > The boat is fastest when sailed as level as possible.  It is really like
> a
> > big sailing dingy.  If you are consistently sailing with the rail in the
> > water; then, you need more weight on the windward rail &/or less sail
> area,
> > consistent with the above discussion re weather/lee helm.  By keeping the
> > fore/aft sail area balanced, the boat won’t tend to round up or broach
> when
> > knocked down by a gust.
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > 1978. Sanford, MI
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > > On Jul 24, 2026, at 5:15 PM, Shawn Boles <shawn.sustain at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi all:
> > >
> > > A gentleman on the Facebook Rhodes site posted the following:
> > > Yes
> > > I have owned my Rhodes for 33 years after Stan built it for me. He
> > refused
> > > to take my order at the Annapolis Boat Show and insisted that I come to
> > > Edenton to sail a Rhodes before I bought a new one. During that sail in
> > > miserable weather he said, "When to wind is too high, roll up the main
> > and
> > > reef the Genoa." Best sailing advice I ever had.
> > >
> > >
> > > This is the first I've heard of this tactic. I would have expected it
> to
> > be
> > > in Stan's manual. I would welcome comments from others on the list.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Shawn
> > > S/V Sweet Baboo
> >
>