the rudder was lost. A somewhat minor disaster befell Sjogin yesterday.
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Your decidedly Unhappy Skipper.
Julia and I had friends out for sail Sunday, puttering around the Bay south of Swan Point. It was blowing about 6 to 10, gusting higher, out of the SSW. On the eastern side a bit of fresh sea breeze was filling in, fighting the gradient wind. It was like sailing in and out of air conditioning.
We tacked up to Hankin’s Island (a repeat visit this year!) on the shifting breeze and then ran down to the marsh by Reedy Creek. Once there, we hove to on Starboard, slowly fore-reaching towards Swan Point. In between are the oyster boxes, floating in anchored sets. Each set of a dozen or so floats are about 100′ long.
As we neared the floats, I swapped jib sheets to go on Port tack till we could lay Swan Point and head for home. Usually, Sjogin will come up into the wind after the sheets change and go over on the other tack.
Well she didn’t. We were in irons, eventually making stern way. I tried to get her to fall off on Port but to no avail. Sjogin gathered way and ran over the line of oyster boxes. As she slid over the gear it lifted the rudder off the pintles and it disappeared from view.
I’m sure some of you are wondering why the rudder wasn’t secured to prevent it becoming un-shipped. Here’s a clue:
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This hefty Monel nut is supposed to be threaded on the upper pintel and backed up with a cotter pin. If I had taken a few minutes last fall before launching this wouldn’t have happened. My fault entirely.
After rigging the sweep as a steering oar we made it back to Beaton’s. Not before the crisis of losing the oar, running down and anchoring close to the marsh and a walk on the marsh by Joe Foster to recover the oar. What a day!
On Monday weekend guest Phil Heffernan and I went out on Beaton’s garvey with Fred to search the marsh and Bay for the missing rudder. No luck. I’m bringing the double paddle canoe to aid in the search. Once Speedwell’s in commission I’ll use her as well.
Here’s a flyer I’m posting to let folks know of the lost rudder. If any of you find yourself in the area between Swan and Sloop Point’s and come across this curious bit of floatsam, please let me know.
Thanks,
Russ
Like a ship without a rudder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyb0KmSi698
The Lemonheads – Rudderless
To think of it makes me shudder
the fact that you lost your rudder
near Hankins Island one day
while sailing the day away
I guess Tom’s gonna have to make you a nudder
Hey Russ, really sorry to hear about that. I have a pretty good idea the sort of foul mood you must be in. Sort of spoils the whole week, I’m sure. (Been there.) Just so happens I’m making my own rudder hardware at the moment, so it’s timely for me, at least. Hope the “safe keeper” I have planned will suffice.
Cheers, and good luck,
Barry
I was there to see the extremely calm cool and collected skipper deal with the incipient disaster that is so much a part of the sailing experience. Good job Russ!
Don’t despair Russ!
I lost the rudder from my Thistle two summers ago and someone found it for me three months later. Funny thing was – no one knew who it belonged to, but it made it’s way back to me none-the-less.
I think the trick is to build a new one. That’s what I did. Then the old one got jealous.
doryman
bac from vacation so just read your latest. sad about the lost rudder but sounds like you did a great job getting the ship of state home w/o outside assistance. impressive.
just curious, what happened to the tiller? it wasn’t positively afixed to the rudder? did it just end up in you hand w/o the rudder attached? also would the rudder actually float?
oyster boxes?
Thanks All. Appreciate the commiseration.
Michael,
I fully expect to see the rudder hanging in a local restaurant just after I make a new one.
Peter,
The tiller was jammed in the rudder per usual and assume it’s still attached. Not sure of the rudder buoyancy but suspect the heavy fittings and drifts may have sunk. That would be best as it’s probably still in the area. If it had any positive buoyancy the currents may have taken it anywhere. Keep your eyes open.
Pennington,
The boxes are mesh cages attached to floats to grow oysters. Something new on the Bay. When I spoke with the wife of the owner she said they expect to have the first harvest this Fall.
Russ