Lost rudder mid Atlantic

[fisherman]

Did we ever find out how they got in?

 

[sailorman]

Did we ever find out how they got in?

yes safely arrived. it was posted here

 

[TQA]

Yup; sailed into the west side of St Lucia and only got towed the last little bit into the marina.

It looked like they still had a bit of rudder remaining but did not see the boat hauled out.

They were a little dismayed by all the attention they got I think.

 

[Searush]

(snip)

They were a little dismayed by all the attention they got I think.

I'm not that surprised. It wasn't all supportive or helpfull was it? Maybe, just sometimes, we need to think about our comments a little more?

 

[Cardo]

I'm not that surprised. It wasn't all supportive or helpfull was it? Maybe, just sometimes, we need to think about our comments a little more?

I remember following the thread quite closely. I'm pretty sure it was pretty much all either supportive or offering suggestions.

It was nice to hear they made a safe landing.

 

[Wandering Star]

Most definitely supportive and a collective congrats once they tied up. I think possibly SR maybe confusing an earlier thread wherea boat was abandoned in mid Atlantic although I can't remember the exact details. That was somewhat critical of the crew for not trying harder!

Cheers, Brian.

 

[AIDY]

All safe and well... spoke to a relative of the crew after xmas... they were waiting 6 weeks for a new rudder to be made in sweden and flown out to them.

 

[Greenheart]

Was there ever any clue as to what caused the rudder's damage?

I wonder how many AWBs or long-fin cruisers can claim sufficient rig/keel balance to continue passage-making with a disabled rudder.

 

[Zorro]

I have always made sure that we have a very long oar onboard before any long passage just in case, but touch wood I have never had a reason to see how well it works to date.

 

[Greenheart]

Considering how simple the rudder is, and how uncomplicated the required pintles and gudgeons are, maybe it's surprising that serious offshore yachts aren't invariably ready-fitted with spares, adjacent to the principles, and with a spare rudder for if the worst happens.

Almost any yacht is hobbled without steering, but how many are thoroughly prepared to jury-rig such a vital control?

 

[TQA]

Considering how simple the rudder is, and how uncomplicated the required pintles and gudgeons are, maybe it's surprising that serious offshore yachts aren't invariably ready-fitted with spares, adjacent to the principles, and with a spare rudder for if the worst happens.

Almost any yacht is hobbled without steering, but how many are thoroughly prepared to jury-rig such a vital control?

Some are fitted with such a device, it is called a Hydrovane

 

[Greenheart]

Quite so. And it's a much nicer self-steering solution than GPS-based autopilots, too. Odd that it's not universally popular.

 

[Cardo]

Quite so. And it's a much nicer self-steering solution than GPS-based autopilots, too. Odd that it's not universally popular.

Price. At least that's what put us off...

 

[rickym]

Some are fitted with such a device, it is called a Hydrovane

+1!