HOW TO - Steering without a rudder

Navigating Without a Rudder

Loss of steering is among the most frequent challenges sailors encounter offshore and is even more common closer to shore, where floating debris poses a greater risk. While an emergency rudder is a potential solution, its practicality is often hindered by cost, bulk, and the challenges of deploying it in adverse conditions. For catamarans, disconnecting a jammed rudder is straightforward if it's stuck straight, but what if it’s jammed hard over? This was the unfortunate scenario faced by the Alpha 42 catamaran Be Good Too in 2014.

Steering with drogues, however, offers a viable alternative. Tests have shown that even with a jammed or locked rudder, drogues can be used to effectively control a boat, enabling sailing to windward in moderate conditions. By adjusting sail trim and drogue position, directional stability and control can be restored. But questions remain: What if the rudder is jammed at an angle? Are all drogues suitable for this purpose? What size and setup work best?
Testing Drogues for Steering

Our tests involved the Seabrake GP24L, Galerider 30, Delta Drogue 72, and a towed warp, using a 34-foot catamaran to simulate rudder failure scenarios. Drogues were deployed on 100 feet of polyester double-braid rope with an 8-foot chain weight, allowing us to assess their drag characteristics at different speeds. We tested each setup in various wind conditions, adjusting bridle positions and sail trim to evaluate performance across multiple points of sail.
Key Findings

Drogue Selection: A drogue that generates too much drag slows progress, while one with insufficient drag offers poor control.
Galerider 30: The most stable and effective in moderate conditions but overpowered in winds above 15 knots. A larger model (Galerider 36) is recommended for stronger conditions.
Seabrake 24: Effective in winds over 20 knots, particularly with a jammed rudder. Its stability diminishes on shorter rodes, but longer scopes improve performance.
Delta Drogue 72: A robust and proven design, though prone to skipping at shorter scopes. It quickly re-engages, maintaining directional control.
Towed Warps: While warps and chains can serve as makeshift drogues, they generally lack the drag needed for effective steering without extensive additions.

Deployment: Effective control often depends on deploying the drogue from a bridle, with spinnaker sheets or lines adjusted for optimal positioning. Experimentation is key, as boat characteristics greatly influence performance.

Practical Considerations:
Steering with a drogue is slower and more labor-intensive than conventional sailing.
While pointing ability is reduced, a drogue allows a stable course to be maintained, even enabling progress to windward in moderate conditions.
Practicing deployment and adjustment in calm conditions is essential to ensure preparedness in an emergency.

Conclusion

Drogues are not just for storm survival; they are invaluable tools for emergency steering, particularly in coastal waters where steering loss is a significant risk. While they cannot replicate the precision of a functioning rudder, drogues offer a practical solution to regain control, stabilize the vessel, and navigate toward safety.

Every sailor should consider carrying a drogue suitable for their vessel’s size and practice its use to build confidence and skill in this critical seamanship technique.

by admin