Tuesday 21 January 2025

Frisky night hard on nearly thirty knot blustery apparent trying to lay course around east end of Cuba. Auto pilot unable to maintain consistent course in swirling wind and current. We were taking heavy sea over the bow and across top of bimini. Conditions finally eased somewhat around sunrise as we began turning off through the Windward Passage and true wind dropped slightly. By noon, of course, there was barely enough breeze to sail.

However, during the heavy bit, boat became even more difficult to steer. Rudder had lost authority. Checked quadrant to confirm post was moving properly, so concluded either shaft had broken free inside rudder or we lost most of the rudder, probably due heavy weather and/or grounding in Bahamas. Had just enough authority left to have minimal steerage, but auto pilot eventually unable to hold course even with full turns lock to lock.

Installed Hydrovane auxiliary rudder for help, but that requires locked boat rudder to maintain balance. Eventually locked it in place straight ahead for stability and as sea calmed steering became easier for awhile. That lasted part of the night, then sea again increased to a meter and a half. Aggressive hand steering kept us going in general direction of Port Antonio, Jamaica, closest destination with a yard that wasn't Cuba or Haiti.

Wednesday

Arrived this afternoon after constant hand steering an erratic course with just enough rudder to get on dock for the night. Set up for haul out in the morning.

Thursday

Bottom of rudder broken off exactly the way it had in Mozambique Channel going into Richard's Bay, South Africa. New one fabricated there, but expect this time to pay big bucks to have OEM unit shipped from Taiwan. Two pipe braces from upper remaining rudder into lower missing bit broke at weld. Of course, Chinese New Year just began so the month lead time to fabricate new (they no longer build 46s on spec) won't begin until 2 February. Contemplating options.

Friday

Spent yesterday afternoon and all today trying to remove rudder. Detailed instructions from Queen Long Yard don't match our installation in important ways. Hylas engineer in Ft. Lauderdale not helpful. Will continue working it tomorrow. Have determined that a serviceable rudder can be fabricated with local talent to get us to Panama where new unit can be shipped. Had planned staying there until at least end of March, so perhaps enough time to get delivery.

Seem to remember from a recent installment of this blog about how everyone would be out cruising except for a few niggling issues... this is one of those.

Jack & Jan