Shortly after posting the blog yesterday morning Robin on Free Spirit who I had mentioned yesterday was keeping in close contact with us in case it became necessary to take us under tow informed us at our regular 8am check-in that they had some drama happening and Phillip was going in the water to look at something. Half an hour later Phillip calls me to say he has lost 80% of his rudder. We were talking rudders the other day and he was telling me how his rudder shaft is 4" solid pipe. Well his shaft and internal framework is still there but 80% of the fiberglass part is gone. So now we are standing by in case we need to take them in tow! So far they are doing well on their own with just the staysail up sheeted in flat and a warp off the back under motor using the remaining part of their rudder to keep within 20 degrees of their course. The worry is that with the rudder torn open the water will cause the remaining foam and fiberglass to detach. So we both continue on with fingers crossed 2/3 of the way to Manihi having only one more day as of this morning. On Ovive, day two was much better with much calmer conditions only having to adjust the rudder every 1 ½ hour. We made 167 miles the first day and 163 the second day. Not so bad considering we are only using our working jib with no main.