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My new Rhodes 22 was purchased from Stan Spitzer of General Boats in
2009. Stan had commissioned Phillip Rhodes in the 1960’s to design the
Rhodes 22 and he continues to fabricate and refurbish the same boat at his
plant in Edenton NC. I invited myself to the “sellers” view of the boat show
by offering to take prospective buyers out for a demonstration sail during
the show days October 7‐11. Stan graciously agreed and put me and my
Rhode 22 room up in a boat slip adjacent to the show South entrance at the
Yacht Basin Marina sandwiched between the yacht Club and Water Taxi.
My sailing is almost always solo as my wife and two daughters show little to
no interest and I am therefore becoming adept at the art of single sailing. A
particular solo challenge for the boat show was how to get myself to the
boat at Herrington Harbor in Deale Maryland, sail the 22 plus miles north to
Above: Captain Cowie at
Annapolis, get home in time for back to school night, back to the boat
the helm of Opus.
show, sail the boat back to Herrington Harbor from Annapolis and then get
back home. The solution to this challenge was to strap my vespa scooter to
the back of my car, drop the car in Annapolis, scooter to the boat at
Herrington Harbor, sail north, puck up the car for tarnsportion back and
forth between home and the show, drop the car back in Annapolis, sail
south to Herrington harbor, scooter back to Annapolis and load the scooter
back on the its trailer for the trip home. The transportation logistics went
Opposite page: Water color pretty smooth and I managed to find some pretty country roads to scooter
sketches from Cowie’s on between Annapolis and Herrington harbor.
journal.
A journal blog by Chris Cowie
Thursday
is VIP opening show day and I took
advantage of the smaller crowds to explore
some of the larger boats I hope never to have
to maintain during my remaining sailing years. Stan and Mac giving a demo sail at thin Annapolis
Yes, I am quite happy with my 22 foot Rhodes able to leave Annapolis at 10:30 AM for a 12:00 noon lunch and
Boat Show room. Left the show in time to walk
power back by 2:30 in time for the closing hours of the boat show
to my car that I had parked the day before in certainly has some advantage over a day long sailboat journey.
Annapolis to get home with plenty of time to
make back to school night ay my daughter Drove back to DC in time to enjoy a dinner date with my
Colleen’s school. wife since our younger daughter was off for the weekend to visit
her older sister away at college in New York City. After dinner we
Day two, Friday, of the Annapolis picked up a somewhat unexpected brother in law Phil visiting
Boat Show. I had previously made from Charlevoix Michigan who purchased an unlimited
arrangements
with my Dad for our monthly Greyhound bus ticket for the month of October to visit friends
lunch get together of crabs and beer at and family. I invited Phil to join me as first mate during the
Kentmoor on the Eastern Shore of the Saturday demo sails at the boat show. Only lost Phil once at the
Chesapeake Bay. I felt a little guilty leaving the show for a few hours and he enjoyed it enough to sign on again
Sailboat show to power across the bay in Dads as crew for the Monday closing ceremonies and the early
twin
diesel 32 foot Legacy power boat. Being Tuesday morning return trip to Herrington Harbor.
Thomas Point Light on the way home
The sun, wind and warm weather continued in
abundance throughout the show. Phil found a pair of $10 Navy
shorts at one of the local shops and enjoyed sun bathing in the
Rhodes “room” while I tried to help Stan and his younger
brother Elton work the show talking to prospective buyers. The
show always ends with a spectacular display of boats parading
past the cheering crowds gathered along the city docks and
overflowing off the local Pussers bar patio with pain killers laced
with run and other libations flowing freely. As the last of the
floating docks were re‐arranged and sailboats exited the harbor
making way for the power boat show Phil and I found our way to
a local tavern to enjoy and evening meal before settling in for
First Mate Phil
our early morning departure.
5:00 AM came around pretty quick and we
rearranged our 22 foot room back to a sailing vessel and
headed out into the dim lit Annapolis harbor in time to enjoy a
warm and breezy sunrise out on the Chesapeake Bay among
the various container shops waiting their turn to enter
Baltimore Harbor.
Thomas Point Light was off to our starboard before long as we made a good 5‐10 kt speed for a 4 hr 10:30 AM
arrival back at Herrington Harbor North. Phil scrubbed the salt spray off Opus as I made the vespa trip back to Annapolis
to pick up the car. After another sunny day at the boat we packed up and headed home. I will reminisce about this trip
during the cold winter months in anticipation of what next year’s view with a room might bring.
The parade of boats heading
out past a cheering crowd at
the close of the 41st Annapolis
Sailboat Show
A companionway reflection on the view
with a room trip taken by the captain
during the early morning trip to
Annapolis