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

[Winslow Ayer]

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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