California Condor

Hey everybody. Just in case you were worried that our steering system was best described by the word careening I have good news. The drouge offers a little more control than my father implied, its more like driving a semi on ice that moves. Instead of turning a rudder to create uneven drag and turn the boat, we have two lines tied to a central drag point (the drouge). When we want to turn we pull on one side which rotates the boat in relation to the drouge. The pull of the jib means that we really steer by letting in and out the weather drouge line. If it sounds confusing to you, then you feel the same way we do! It's a lot more like skidding than regular driving because steering adjustments don't effect the heading for about ten seconds. But its decidedly doable. Woo Hoo! We're still trucking along though, averaging the right direction. Today we experimented with yet more sail combinations, finding ourselves overpowered by the awesome jib-top. Now the jib-top is furled and ready for light air deployment. We finished the afternoon with minor repairs to the heavy #1. Jim spent the day demonstrating cabin fever while frolicking in the forepeak with the rudder. Now we are all preparing for dinner as Dad maneuvers us toward Hawaii with only the occasional accidental jibe. Cheers!