Monday Never documents mid Atlantic rescue

[1st Sail]

Forty years ago after graduating from college I had the opportunity to sail. I put the experience in my bucket list and it remain there untouched for 30 yrears. With the kids all graduated and on their own I pulled out the bucket list and checked off 'sailboat. I reading everything I could find, lived on the 'net', and googled sailing daily. I read every blog I could find. It has been an amazing journey. There was one thing that struck me as pervasive. The moral compass and common decency of all mariners was overwhelming. Time and time again I would read about how great people were to each other. And if you were in danger or need of help the outpouring of assistance was spontaneous. When my faith in humanity starts to wain I will watch this video.

Monday Never is a youtube.com channel that this young couple started a year+ ago. The following is their most recent post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8bfj2Mx65k

Faith in humanity reset to restored....

[ris]

The captain of the rescue sail boat was smart and thoughtful. I have read a lot about sailboats losing their rudders in storms. I do not think I would sail across the oceans without a rudder attached both top and bottom to the boat. Why take the chance. I know lots of boats do ocean crossings with rudders that are only attached at the top but I simply would not do it. The boating community consists of 95% great people. Thanks for sharing the link.

[LoHo]

So, who is going to form an alt-group of Mac Five-Percenters? Of course, most of the 5% of less-than-great people probably sail Hunters or Benetaus...

[Sea Wind]

If the US coast guard would have been involved, the ship would not have been left behind. The usually sink them to avoid ghost ships.

[Ponaldpe]

If the US coast guard would have been involved, the ship would not have been left behind. The usually sink them to avoid ghost ships.

Do they really sink your boat?

[LoHo]

I was wondering...can anyone explain why the damaged ship's captain thought that staying aboard alone was a good choice? What repair could he do alone that he couldn't do with help? I could not determine how the rudder was broken, but I have read lots of stories about rigging something that works as a rudder well enough. Then he had broken sheets...what was going on?

[mrron_tx]

It must have made a large impact on Them , The last I heard They sold the boat and are touring Europe on a motorcycle and side car......

[Don T]

Hello,
As I read it on Jan 22 the boat was still adrift.

[1st Sail]

Speaking of sailing with out a rudder. I'll see if I can find the Youtube channel about the guy that left Hawaii for the US. Three hundred miles + off the HI coast he sheers the rudder shaft. Using only his sails he turns the boat around and sails 24/7 back to HI. Once in radio range he calls ahead to the harbor and informs them of his situation and pending arrival. Rather than paying for a lengthy and costly tow he proceeds to sail the boat with in a mile or two of the harbor entrance and calls for a tow! With enough sea room, experience, and somewhat favorable weather it can be done.

So next time your out there pull the rudders and motor see what you can do. IIRC he even managed to ta

[1st Sail]

managed to tack frequently. I can't even run my keyboard competently who knows how the rudderless sailing will go!

[C Buchs]

I heard an interview with a couple that lost their rudder and were able to make it back to a harbor entrance to get towed in. After some looking I found it. It was Ken & Carol Gillstrom from Voyageur Sailing Adventures and the interview was on The Sailing Rode episode 010. They discuss how they were able to balance the sails and use some creative tacking/jibing to get back. It is a very interesting story. You can find the interview here http://www.thesailingrode.com/podcast/0 ... ng-part-2/

Jeff

[Tomfoolery]

A useful skill, even for just reducing drag by centering the rudder and not fighting yaw with it.

Crucial when you don't even have a rudder, from what I'm reading in this thread.

[jstyers]

Speaking of sailing with out a rudder. I'll see if I can find the Youtube channel about the guy that left Hawaii for the US. Three hundred miles + off the HI coast he sheers the rudder shaft. Using only his sails he turns the boat around and sails 24/7 back to HI. Once in radio range he calls ahead to the harbor and informs them of his situation and pending arrival. Rather than paying for a lengthy and costly tow he proceeds to sail the boat with in a mile or two of the harbor entrance and calls for a tow! With enough sea room, experience, and somewhat favorable weather it can be done.

So next time your out there pull the rudders and motor see what you can do. IIRC he even managed to ta

That youtube channel is SY Zero.

[Ixneigh]

Well. That was interesting. Those are pretty big boats.
I feel for the family who had to leave their boat and can understand the fathers reluctance. He probably thought near the end, better to join his family. Best for his wife and kids I would think. Boats important but your kids come first.
I'm surprised they had a hard time making the boat go down wind without a rudder.
These newer generation of sailors seem to need to go fast. They seem to think that boats are like cars when they talk about "uninspiring" performance.
Well will she look after you in 40 foot seas or won't she? That's what's important. There's nothing the matter with fast but I'm not giving up strength to get it.
Skeg hung rudder. Everything about it should assure you it will still be in place after the boats rolls off a 60 foot wave. If you ground the boat it won't be instantly destroyed.
If a Skeg hung rudder and a so called cruising fin is too slow then perhaps you should buy an airline ticket.
And that's also why I get annoyed with the macs steering system even though it's not a blue water boat losing the rudder could still be a nuisance.
Ix

[darrenj]

Good article on how to steer with a drogue.
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2014/ ... nt-tested/

I expect that every boat will behave differently so would not count on it working until having tried it.
It would be fun to try. I am thinking about picking one up.