Racing emergency rudder?

[Uricanejack]

I’m not a regular racer or competitive. If I do race its for fun and just to say I had a go.
I’m contemplating entering a short 2 or 3 day offshore race because its going my way.
I was just going through the rules. Boats have to meet category 1 requirements. Most seam quite sensible. I am going to do the voyage race or not. Most of the requirements make sense and I intend to comply anyway. except maybe replacing good covered life lines with uncovered.
This one has got me wondering an emergency rudder . Not an emergency steering tiller a rudder.
Has any one got any ideas on how to comply. .
I suppose boats going offshore sometimes loose rudders.
I was thinking of a steering oar. But how to stow it?

 

[Uricanejack]

here it is straight from the rules

3.0 Ship’s Gear
I II III IV
R A N N 3.1 Separate emergency steering apparatus adequate to steer boat in event of loss of rudder. An inspector may require
that the apparatus be demonstrated.

 

[Rossynant]

Self-steering of auxiliary-rudder kind? Might come handy anyway.

 

[michael_w]

The usual method is to have one of the bunk boards prepared so it can be lashed to the spinnaker pole as a steering oar; this is best rigged vertically like the vikings.
Another proven method is to tow a drogue or bucket on two lines lead to either side of the boat.

I have been scrutineered several times and either method has been found acceptable.

 

[dunedin]

The usual method is to have one of the bunk boards prepared so it can be lashed to the spinnaker pole as a steering oar; this is best rigged vertically like the vikings.
Another proven method is to tow a drogue or bucket on two lines lead to either side of the boat.

I have been scrutineered several times and either method has been found acceptable.

Yes, my boat came with one of the bunk boards pre-drilled with some holes about 5 inches apart and marked by pen "spare rudder". Never tried it, but assume intended to be tied to spinnaker pole as Michael says. Never tried it but looks like a rules compliance fudge.
If planning to race may need to bite the bullet and replace plastic covered lifelines.

 

[Roberto]

There are a few ideas on the TransPac web site.


http://sfbaysss.org/TransPac/transpac2008/emergency_rudder_designs/emergency_rudder_designs.html

IIRC Monitor, Windpilot and Scanmar (windvane manufacturers) make also some "serious" moveable emergency rudders

 

[sailorman]

Our Co32 had a 2 part sweep

 

[awol]

If planning to race may need to bite the bullet and replace plastic covered lifelines.

If you just run a Stanley knife along the line cutting off a slice of plastic, the rest just peels off. Take you about 5 minutes!

 

[Uricanejack]

I think a self steering system is a bit out of my budget just now. I just bought the boat and am starting to get it ready to bring home. so a fudge for the rules is likely though I would hope the fudge would actualy work. Main reason Im thinking of entering the race is I like the idea of the organised group of boats for my first off shore voyage in many years.
thanks for the ideas.

 

[Pleiades]

Jerry built sterering devices are a practical joke. Buy a Hydrovane - the best investment you can make to improve a cruising boat and will of course comply with the rules for the odd race. The plastic covered lifelines are worth ditching - the plastic allows the lifelines to rot unseen so that what looks to be strong enough to save someone falling over board is actually worthless. My yankee sheet took a turn around my bare wire covered lifelines at the gate and twisted the line (heavy weather sailing in these recurring gales). On inspection I found that the lifeline had lost two twists of the wire so I got it replaced yesterday - if it had been plastic covered the weakness would have lurked unseen.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[onesea]

Just realized that will by one of my biggest floorboards has random holes in it, one of those dodgy jury rig things. The ones that do not work but fit the rules is all you require, your a racer now not a nimby cruiser

You will get home some how, if your rudder does break you might not be as quick but it saves allot of cost and weight on a relatively small chance...

 

[Uricanejack]

Just checked out a hydrovane at a Boat Show. If I was going of round the world or across an ocean it looks great but for 1 short voyage I'm unlikly to repeat its just to big a chunk out of my budget. although it has given me an idea.