I just motored from Whitby to Etobicoke - 28nm - at about 7-8 knots, in 15 knot winds and 4 foot rivet-popper waves dead on the bow - with CB up but rudders down.whgoffrn wrote:... the conditions you described are the conditions that cause the most stress on the rudders and brackets ...so sailing on jib alone most likely would be the way to go but the scenario you described is what has broken a couple macgregor rudders and or bracket. If its just a short trip back to calmer seas I'm sure it would be ok but if you think its going to be a couple hours of sustained abuse to the rudders and or brackets I'd be chucking the drogue over
Might not have been something I'd do single-handed - but the Admiral is worth more than a broken rudder, so I chanced it.
Luckily, while there was certainly plenty of pitching, there was virtually zero yawing and rolling - so it was much easier on the hardware