wrote:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi...8/06_03-29/TOP

Fred

"Rudder failure" can mean a whole load of things, dependant upon the type of
steering and how the wheel's movement is transmitted to the rudder, assuming
it was a wheel-steered yacht.

Since virtually all racing boats carry an emergency tiller, it mystifies me
why this was not deployed by one of the crew remaining on the yacht,
suitably clothed in his lifejacket.

Also a mystery is where all the water was coming from, unless the rudder had
actually broken off at the stock.

A soleboard lashed to the spinnaker pole might have been an option provided
the ingress of water could have been stopped or minimized.

Is this another case of the CG simply taking the view that "it's only
$300,000, let the insurers pick up the tab"?


Dennis.