L'Eau Commotion Westabout

As forecast the wind gradually increased from early morning and it became difficult to stop L'Eau Commotion from rounding up with the double reefed main and staysail whilst trying to run dead downwind. First the staysail was furled but this didn't help much so then the main was stowed and the staysail unfurled. This gave a reasonable course and speed in the increasingly heavy conditions but about mid morning something was obviously awry with the self steering mechanism. It became obvious that the auxiliary rudder had sustained a bend but further investigation showed that it also twisted on its shaft and none of the attempts to align it with the direction of travel were successful. As it was by then blowing a half gale with rain squalls sleet and breaking waves the gear was partially lashed and the yacht was left to lie ahull with some forward movement under bare poles. The forecast is for quite moderate conditions in the morning to see what can be sorted out. As the weather conditions did not allow a full appraisal of the situation just what can be done will have to wait till morning. Once this is sorted the plan is to make for Kettering and then perhaps Hobart to perhaps get the electric self steering looked at. I knew this needed attention in Albany but as the nearest technicians were in Perth, a 10 hour round trip, I thought this could wait. Not looking forward to Real Sailing at the helm in temperatures around 12C!