This week begins the sixth edition of the Around Alone Race -- around the world singlehanded in five legs. Race Director Sir Robin Knox Johnston was the winner of the 1968 Golden Globe Race, the inaugural singlehanded non-stop around the world race. Halfway through that race Johnston's self-steering gear failed for the last time. He was faced with a choice of giving up, steering the boat manually for the next 15,000 miles, or learning to keep the boat on course by balancing the sails -- in effect steering with the sails -- which he did to successfully complete and win the race. Have you ever tried lashing your tiller or wheel amidships and steering with just the sails? How did that work out? What points of sail have you tried it on? How long were you able to maintain your course? Did you try this just for fun or to improve your seamanship... or because your steering system failed? Do you have any pointers you want to share to help others do this successfully? (Quiz contributed by Gary Wyngarden)
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Rudder-less or -locked steering?
Nelleke and I just came back from four-and-a-half months of sailing Rivendel up and down the SE Trades in the Vanuatu archipelago for Project MARC (Medical Assistance to Remote Communities). In doing so, we had to deal with similar issues because of lack of sufficient preparation time to fully repair and adjust our Autohelm windvane system the first couple of weeks. Alas, the title of this topic, i.e. "rudderless steering", is a bit confusing. If indeed the rudder is completely missing, as the title suggests, your typical finkeeler is going to need a heck of a lot more than just a properly set sailplan and one generally will need to fabricate some type of emergency rudder. Therefore, before getting caught up in time-consuming semantics, would the original poster please clarify? Thanks Flying Dutchman
Nelleke and I just came back from four-and-a-half months of sailing Rivendel up and down the SE Trades in the Vanuatu archipelago for Project MARC (Medical Assistance to Remote Communities). In doing so, we had to deal with similar issues because of lack of sufficient preparation time to fully repair and adjust our Autohelm windvane system the first couple of weeks. Alas, the title of this topic, i.e. "rudderless steering", is a bit confusing. If indeed the rudder is completely missing, as the title suggests, your typical finkeeler is going to need a heck of a lot more than just a properly set sailplan and one generally will need to fabricate some type of emergency rudder. Therefore, before getting caught up in time-consuming semantics, would the original poster please clarify? Thanks Flying Dutchman
"A hand at the helm"
When I need a break from the helm I place a boat cushion between the tiller and the transom so the tiller will not move radically. My sails are trimmed and balanced such that the boat climbs the wind almost to the point of luffing and then backs off a couple of points. I continue to have way-on but my speed suffers!
When I need a break from the helm I place a boat cushion between the tiller and the transom so the tiller will not move radically. My sails are trimmed and balanced such that the boat climbs the wind almost to the point of luffing and then backs off a couple of points. I continue to have way-on but my speed suffers!
Major lee helm
I have been plagued with the problem of drastic lee helm on my cutter-rigged Venture of Newport, especially in light air and close hauled. I have played with sail balance, but it just seems that when I have all three sails set and drawing, my rudder authority goes to hell. Any suggestions?
I have been plagued with the problem of drastic lee helm on my cutter-rigged Venture of Newport, especially in light air and close hauled. I have played with sail balance, but it just seems that when I have all three sails set and drawing, my rudder authority goes to hell. Any suggestions?
Rake the Mast
Hi Jenny, Owned a Newport a few years ago. Remember the mast was raked back quite a bit and boat was balanced (bit of weather helm). Enjoyed the boat - simple, flexible sail plan.
Hi Jenny, Owned a Newport a few years ago. Remember the mast was raked back quite a bit and boat was balanced (bit of weather helm). Enjoyed the boat - simple, flexible sail plan.
On the Wind
Sailing upwind my Catalina 25 will sail for long periods with the helm locked. I installed a tiller lock box for mt tiller extensiom for just this purpose, and still use it when my course is to windward, and it's too much trouble to rig the tillerpilot. On other points of sail, wave action prevents holding a course for any length of time, a function of the fin keel. I've never tried locking the helm and constantly adjusting the sails to maintain a course; it's easier to steer!
Sailing upwind my Catalina 25 will sail for long periods with the helm locked. I installed a tiller lock box for mt tiller extensiom for just this purpose, and still use it when my course is to windward, and it's too much trouble to rig the tillerpilot. On other points of sail, wave action prevents holding a course for any length of time, a function of the fin keel. I've never tried locking the helm and constantly adjusting the sails to maintain a course; it's easier to steer!
Delivering a boat from 5 hours out of Bermuda to NYC Ambros light my crew and I balanced the sails hard to windward and did not touch the wheel for 5 days. The wind was 18 to 25 the whole way.Our origional course was WNW. There was a low over NY and as it passed and went up New England the wind veared more Easterly. We did it strictly because there was no autopilot on board and no one wanted to stear for four hours at a time. Then it became a contest to see how long we could keep it going. You can balance almost any sailboat to windward. Just haul the jib in tight and let the main out just before it lufs. If the one sail is larger than the other, power wise, you will have to use the rudder to compensate. Other points of sail are more difficult.
Oday 25 Steering
I just bought a new 135 Furling Genoa and the boat stelf steers nicely close-hauled with just the foresail up, as long as the wind is over 10-12 knots. When I put up the main, she tends to head-up, and I still have more to learn about balancing the two sails, but with the furling rig and/or my new genoa track, I should be able to figure it out in time. BTW, if you don't have a genoa track for your oday-25, it is a good investment.
I just bought a new 135 Furling Genoa and the boat stelf steers nicely close-hauled with just the foresail up, as long as the wind is over 10-12 knots. When I put up the main, she tends to head-up, and I still have more to learn about balancing the two sails, but with the furling rig and/or my new genoa track, I should be able to figure it out in time. BTW, if you don't have a genoa track for your oday-25, it is a good investment.
Not Just Sails: But Also Weight
I have a SpinLock adjustable tiller extension. I set the handle on the inside of the cockpit combing adjusting it to the desired length, compensating for any weather helm either artificially or naturally induced. This sets up a balance so that as the boat begins to slowly sail off the wind. As this occurs the sail set powers up and begins to sail the boat back to windward into a groove. Any type of windward scalloping is relatively undetectable: The helm never moves. Once this balance is tuned in, I am then free to move around the boat; check the rig, respond to the call of nature, fix a meal or a cocktail. But that¡¯s not all. My favorite activity is to put on my Larakis riggers harness, hook into the spinnaker halyard, and extend my body outside the lifelines to windward. By moving my weight fore and aft, I can further influence the fine tune direction of the boat via micro-balance. This scenario is only possible in winds above 12-15 knots. I have steered the boat in this manner for 20 n/miles plus. The majority of my sailing is solo. I have accomplished this in winds from 12-30 knots true, in angles down as low as a broad reach.
I have a SpinLock adjustable tiller extension. I set the handle on the inside of the cockpit combing adjusting it to the desired length, compensating for any weather helm either artificially or naturally induced. This sets up a balance so that as the boat begins to slowly sail off the wind. As this occurs the sail set powers up and begins to sail the boat back to windward into a groove. Any type of windward scalloping is relatively undetectable: The helm never moves. Once this balance is tuned in, I am then free to move around the boat; check the rig, respond to the call of nature, fix a meal or a cocktail. But that¡¯s not all. My favorite activity is to put on my Larakis riggers harness, hook into the spinnaker halyard, and extend my body outside the lifelines to windward. By moving my weight fore and aft, I can further influence the fine tune direction of the boat via micro-balance. This scenario is only possible in winds above 12-15 knots. I have steered the boat in this manner for 20 n/miles plus. The majority of my sailing is solo. I have accomplished this in winds from 12-30 knots true, in angles down as low as a broad reach.
Do it occasionally
On my Cat 320, once I balance the sail trim I can lock my wheel and let it run for a while, with only occasional corrections. Lets me do small things around the cockpit, etc. I have a shoal-draft fin keel, so it doesn't hold for long, particularly in any sort of conflicting seas. For anything longer than a few minutes, I'll set the autopilot. I would think a boat with a fuller keel might hold a wind-angle course much better. --Ron
On my Cat 320, once I balance the sail trim I can lock my wheel and let it run for a while, with only occasional corrections. Lets me do small things around the cockpit, etc. I have a shoal-draft fin keel, so it doesn't hold for long, particularly in any sort of conflicting seas. For anything longer than a few minutes, I'll set the autopilot. I would think a boat with a fuller keel might hold a wind-angle course much better. --Ron
Good drill and no autopilot
We regularly sail for hours without touching the helm - on a 25 foot, fin keeled boat. The trick in our boat is to slightly oversheet the main, which will tend to drive the bow up, then allow the jib to get a bit deeper than normal with will try to suck the bow down. You lose a little speed but its worth it to sail hands off. We tend to stay within 5 degress of our course on average. Good enough in our line-of-sight sailing grounds. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
We regularly sail for hours without touching the helm - on a 25 foot, fin keeled boat. The trick in our boat is to slightly oversheet the main, which will tend to drive the bow up, then allow the jib to get a bit deeper than normal with will try to suck the bow down. You lose a little speed but its worth it to sail hands off. We tend to stay within 5 degress of our course on average. Good enough in our line-of-sight sailing grounds. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
hands off steering system
I have always used a long bungee cord wrapped around the tiller a couple of times and then the ends hooked to the tee rails on either side of the cockpit aft. Such an arrangement allows enough adjustment for hands off sailing for short times until the boat wants to go up to windward. My boat has along keel so that helps as well.NOt a perfect solution, but cheap and as effective as other set ups I've seen.
I have always used a long bungee cord wrapped around the tiller a couple of times and then the ends hooked to the tee rails on either side of the cockpit aft. Such an arrangement allows enough adjustment for hands off sailing for short times until the boat wants to go up to windward. My boat has along keel so that helps as well.NOt a perfect solution, but cheap and as effective as other set ups I've seen.
long keels
I alway try it in any boat I steer. It's a good test of balance, mast rake, sails shape, etc. The longest run was about 10nm in a German Frers Sr. designed (and his own boat) 30' double ender off Buenos Aires. Regards, Mike
I alway try it in any boat I steer. It's a good test of balance, mast rake, sails shape, etc. The longest run was about 10nm in a German Frers Sr. designed (and his own boat) 30' double ender off Buenos Aires. Regards, Mike
self-steering with a Venture 21
I wrap my dock line from one cleat on one side around the tiller twice and to the cleat on the other side. By adjusting the tiller and then "locking" it this way, I can sail for quite a while. I make minor course adjustments by moving from one side to the other. My boat is light enough to do that. I usually run out of lake after awhile so have to "unlock" the tiller to tack. I use this method both upwind and downwind. Works for me
I wrap my dock line from one cleat on one side around the tiller twice and to the cleat on the other side. By adjusting the tiller and then "locking" it this way, I can sail for quite a while. I make minor course adjustments by moving from one side to the other. My boat is light enough to do that. I usually run out of lake after awhile so have to "unlock" the tiller to tack. I use this method both upwind and downwind. Works for me
Inside the Race to Block Island
A friend whose family had a 40' Sea Wolf ketch with a wheel lock got tired of tugging on the wheel of our '76 Hunter 30 on his watch while sailing from Branford, CT to the Block one night 20 some years ago. He used the tail end of the starboard jib sheet to tie off the helm, and balanced the sails on a due east beam reach, I got up to take my watch and I never touched a thing (except maybe the tape deck and the cooler) until a little before sunrise when I heard the breakers hitting the jetty that marks the New Harbor channel entrance. Probably about a 22 knot wind, I've tried it in lighter winds with limited success. I never have looked into adding a wheel brake, there's a little rubber cover on my pedestal that looks like it has provisions for a lock but I don't remember the pedestal manufacturer's name or know if they are still in business.
A friend whose family had a 40' Sea Wolf ketch with a wheel lock got tired of tugging on the wheel of our '76 Hunter 30 on his watch while sailing from Branford, CT to the Block one night 20 some years ago. He used the tail end of the starboard jib sheet to tie off the helm, and balanced the sails on a due east beam reach, I got up to take my watch and I never touched a thing (except maybe the tape deck and the cooler) until a little before sunrise when I heard the breakers hitting the jetty that marks the New Harbor channel entrance. Probably about a 22 knot wind, I've tried it in lighter winds with limited success. I never have looked into adding a wheel brake, there's a little rubber cover on my pedestal that looks like it has provisions for a lock but I don't remember the pedestal manufacturer's name or know if they are still in business.
Solo to Culebra
I sailed my CD Typhoon from Fajardo PR to Culebra PR, solo. This is about an 18 nm distance. The weather was perfect for the boat and the transit. 7-12 knots out of the North. This made almost a close haul for the entire voyage. No tacking required. Not only was I able to lash the tiller for 80% of the trip but I could make course corrections with my body weight placement. SAL
I sailed my CD Typhoon from Fajardo PR to Culebra PR, solo. This is about an 18 nm distance. The weather was perfect for the boat and the transit. 7-12 knots out of the North. This made almost a close haul for the entire voyage. No tacking required. Not only was I able to lash the tiller for 80% of the trip but I could make course corrections with my body weight placement. SAL
steering with sails
I tried it just for practice. the only problem was that when I was adjusting the sheets, I bent my wrists when pulling. I ended up with tennis elbow. Be careful, don't do what I did. steering with sails realy works well.
I tried it just for practice. the only problem was that when I was adjusting the sheets, I bent my wrists when pulling. I ended up with tennis elbow. Be careful, don't do what I did. steering with sails realy works well.
Upwind, on a reach,
when nature calls... I single-hand most of the time as my mate isn't fond of sailing. The Oday 272 does well with a tiller tamer holding the rudder at midships. I have to make the call quickly though, unless wind and waves are just right. I have tried,unintentionally to be sure,to sail with a lost rudder (twice!!) but it didn't work either time. The boat goes in circles just like a man without a woman... (an old song)
when nature calls... I single-hand most of the time as my mate isn't fond of sailing. The Oday 272 does well with a tiller tamer holding the rudder at midships. I have to make the call quickly though, unless wind and waves are just right. I have tried,unintentionally to be sure,to sail with a lost rudder (twice!!) but it didn't work either time. The boat goes in circles just like a man without a woman... (an old song)
Don't Know if I Could Do it Again, but...
It's been quite a while, but a few times I sailed my 16 ft Hobie Cat right up onto the trailer. I didn't like getting off the boat to put it on the trailer, because the water was dirty. I heard that it not only could be done, but was actually the best way to sail onto the trailer! It worked those few times, but I don't know if I could do it with my current 33 ft Pearson.
It's been quite a while, but a few times I sailed my 16 ft Hobie Cat right up onto the trailer. I didn't like getting off the boat to put it on the trailer, because the water was dirty. I heard that it not only could be done, but was actually the best way to sail onto the trailer! It worked those few times, but I don't know if I could do it with my current 33 ft Pearson.
Steering by main, heads'l or both...
I practice every time I'm out. Rudders can be lost, tillers broken. I find that steering with the main -- sheet in hand -- allows me to sit where I'm most comfortable and I'm at the same time ready for a gust. Keep a jibsheet handy and enjoy some "power-steering" ! (Ranger 23).
I practice every time I'm out. Rudders can be lost, tillers broken. I find that steering with the main -- sheet in hand -- allows me to sit where I'm most comfortable and I'm at the same time ready for a gust. Keep a jibsheet handy and enjoy some "power-steering" ! (Ranger 23).
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