[Public-List] Dolor sailor on Alberg 30 made it to Hawaii, broken rudder

Thu Sep 23 10:11:52 PDT 2021

No kidding. I think I’d be hard pressed to do as well.

Winslow 

> On Sep 23, 2021, at 12:41 PM, Wade Wall via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> 
> Thanks for all the insights everyone. Gordon, I don't think anyone takes it
> as criticism; this is how we all learn from each other and I had the same
> thoughts about weather helm and sail trim when I watched the video. And
> like you, I tip my hat to James for making it to Hawaii with the drogue and
> the way he handled himself. I would have had a lot of video of me losing
> it! LOL
> 
>> On Thu, Sep 23, 2021, 10:22 AM Gordon Laco <mainstay at csolve.net> wrote:
>> 
>> It was once normal for larger sailing vessels of all types to have a hole
>> bored through that upper aft corner of the rudder specifically for the
>> purpose of running emergency jury rigged steering lines through it in the
>> event of damage to the shaft attachment or rudder head.
>> 
>> Gordon Laco
>> 426 Surprise
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Sep 23, 2021, at 10:08 AM, Wes Gardner via Public-List <
>> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Same observations...I am wondering if there'd be a "call" to install an eye
>> bolt in the trailing edge of the rudder where steering lines could be
>> attached...this would work for both tiller steering and wheel steered boats
>> where the rudder itself stays in tact but the gear to turn it fails
>> 
>> Wes
>> 
>> On Thu, Sep 23, 2021 at 9:55 AM Winslow Ayer via Public-List <
>> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I too was taught to sail without a rudder for the same reasons as Gordon.
>> It also made us aware that if we lost our rudder on one of these small
>> boats that all was not lost. As challenging as it was to learn this, we got
>> a great sense of how a boat handles with just a centerboard(or keel). Truly
>> a courageous effort to rig and sail the drogue, something I can’t imagine
>> myself doing.
>> 
>> Winslow Ayer
>> Tinkers Damn #283
>> 
>> On Sep 23, 2021, at 8:51 AM, Gordon Laco via Public-List <
>> 
>> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Good morning friends,
>> 
>> I watched his video in which the rudder failure occurred and have a few
>> 
>> observations.  I am in no way bring critical of his courage and spirit of
>> adventure, but reckon that despite his many sea miles of experience, he
>> does not have a great depth of understanding of seamanship.
>> 
>> 
>> On the passage to Hawaii, before the rudder trouble, I noticed that he
>> 
>> was sailing with at least 20 degrees of weather helm on his boat.  When
>> sailing down wind, he always had his sails close hauled, and there was a
>> sequence where he was trying to reef his mainsail while it was full and
>> drawing… sailing downwind.  He eventually gave this up with the clew only
>> partially drawn down, leaving a very deep curve in the sail.  When next the
>> point of view included the tiller, it could be seen that the weather helm
>> was much worse.
>> 
>> 
>> This of course is perfectly natural given the condition of the mainsail
>> 
>> and point of sail, with the sails close hauled despite the course.   The
>> boat was sailed for days in this condition… sailing quite fast so the load
>> on the steering must have been tremendous.  At one point in the video, you
>> can see the tiller is absolutely hard over for a long time as he was trying
>> to hold a course… the point of view pans back to the rig and again, despite
>> sailing downwind, the sheets are in as if close reaching.   While watching,
>> and knowing the shaft later came adrift from the blade of the rudder, I
>> thought to myself ‘ah’.   I might have thought the rudder head might have
>> come adrift before the blade broke due to the prolonged abnormal strain…
>> but there it is.
>> 
>> 
>> Again I wish to emphasize I do not snipe at his courage, resourcefulness
>> 
>> nor his spirit… all of which he has in spades.  And although steering by
>> sail trim might have been a lot easier and probably more effective in an
>> Alberg 30, his rigging of the drogue system showed great resourcefulness.
>> 
>> 
>> As part of my own instruction when I was a kid, I was taught to steer
>> 
>> the boat by sail balance… the intention was to teach us not to sail with
>> unbalanced rigs and particularly with bad sail trim with an eye toward
>> racing, but for the cruising sailor being able to sail ones boat without
>> dragging the rudder at a needless angle is just good seamanship.  And I am
>> of the opinion that being able to sail the boat well is MORE important to
>> cruising sailors than racers.  Perhaps that video is an example of the
>> consequences.
>> 
>> 
>> With regard to the damage… my thought is that perhaps the impact
>> 
>> happened at some time before the voyage.
>> 
>> 
>> I thought of writing all this right after watching the video a few days
>> 
>> ago, but hesitated because I do not wish to be misunderstood as ‘dissing’
>> the sailor.  I am not.  But your question Wade made me decide to write for
>> the benefit of all of us.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Gordon Laco
>> 426 Surprise
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Sep 23, 2021, at 8:27 AM, Wade Wall via Public-List <
>> 
>> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> A few weeks ago I posted a link to an Alberg 30 sailor who was sailing
>> 
>> to
>> 
>> Hawaii and broke his rudder. He made it to Hawaii by sailing with a
>> 
>> drogue
>> 
>> to steer. Video is here:
>> 
>> https://youtu.be/1AZXXKj0p0s
>> 
>> He discusses how he thinks the rudder broke toward the end. Basically,
>> 
>> he
>> 
>> thinks something hit it on the aft edge, but I just don't see how that
>> could happen without the tiller being lashed to starboard or port.  I
>> haven't asked him if his tiller was lashed, but just curious if anyone
>> 
>> had
>> 
>> any thoughts.
>> 
>> Wade Wall
>> Sophie #421
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