There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. 
-- "Water Rat", Kenneth Grahame's 'The Wind in the Willows  '

Ol' Number 34

Rhodes #34 was puchased originallly new by Ray Milland the movie actor sometime just afte WWII. I don't know when but it was in Newport Harbor YC roster in 1950 or 1951. There must have been some other owner between he and Strat Enright who named the boat "Witch". He sold it to Paull Loveridge  who sold it to Gale Post in about 1963. At one time during this period she may have been called "Aquarius Too" Gale renamed her “Therapy” & painted her in bright yellow.  

Gale performed quite extensive restoration after Pauls “experimental”modifications. For instance, the mast was off-center since he wanted it lto more vertical on port tack. This was the favored tack going up the beach off Newport after the start of the usual races.

During the 80s & 90s her history is unclear but she did find her way to San Diego, was raced hard & fell into dis-repair.

James Nichols owned her for a short time & in 2006 her current owner James Dreyer rescued her from the looming scrap heap.  She is undergoing an extensive restoration at Traditional Boat Works with work being compleded by Fernando Alva under the guidance of Doug Jones. James hopes to have her sailing in 2010.  She will be 63 years old.

She won the Rhodes class championships in 54, 57, 59, 78, 79. (Correct me if im wrong there Ralph!)

In 1938 South Coast introduced the Rhodes 33, one of several narrow racing boats with deep cockpits that Phil Rhodes had designed. Slightly larger and longer than the Pacific Class and with a square foot more sail area, the real difference over the highly successful PC was the interior fitout.  An “Airy Cabin as opposed to a Dungeon” is a description in a recent book about the PC’s designer, Paul Kettenburg.   Features included a drop in outboard well, a two burner stove and head.  Twenty 33’s were sold before the war and 22 more were launched after. The Rhodes & PC’s faced off in numerous organised challenges over the years with the heavier built Rhodes achieving success in stronger conditions.

"He's a boating enthusiast, although that phrase seems too weak to describe the level of his interest,
kind of like describing someone as a 'heroin fancier.'"
~ Dave Barry 

Send your Rhodes 33 contributions & comments to Ralph@Rhodes33.com