jesterchallenger
New member
Someone asked me the other day if I had a contingency plan if my rudder fell off. Unlikely, as it is keel/transom hung with four substantial attachments. The tiller is laminated teak and almost bomb proof. But I have a spare anyway. And my Hydrovane has a separate rudder (and tiller) which I can use to steer the boat as well. If a wave takes off the main rudder, it will probably destroy the Hydrovane rudder though, the latter being more lightly built. I carry a sweep (in making it as we speak) for use in calm conditions if the engine fails and that can also be used as a steering device. Failing that, I can fasten a ply bunk top to the end of one of my spinnaker poles (I am also scheming that up as well!). So I have three back ups planned, just in case.
Reading elsewhere on this site I noticed a piece about the ARC. Apparently a fully crewed 53ft one-off racing boat lost its rudder a day after the start. Attempts to tow it back with a lifeboat failed because the cleats the towline was attached to pulled out of the deck and so the boat was abandoned. Am I missing something here? Fully crewed - only 200 miles (my estimate) from land - fairly new 53 footer - inability to rig jury steering - unable to effect a safe tow. I wonder what our regulatory-powers-to-be would have had to say vis a vis seaworthiness and safety had they inspected this boat alongside a typical Jester Challenger before the start.
Reading elsewhere on this site I noticed a piece about the ARC. Apparently a fully crewed 53ft one-off racing boat lost its rudder a day after the start. Attempts to tow it back with a lifeboat failed because the cleats the towline was attached to pulled out of the deck and so the boat was abandoned. Am I missing something here? Fully crewed - only 200 miles (my estimate) from land - fairly new 53 footer - inability to rig jury steering - unable to effect a safe tow. I wonder what our regulatory-powers-to-be would have had to say vis a vis seaworthiness and safety had they inspected this boat alongside a typical Jester Challenger before the start.