Lost Another Rudder!

[Jim Cate]

"We were never in danger of sinking but we lacked the ability to set a course and get anywhere. We also lacked the conditions to build a rudder out of cabin doors and get the whisker pole due to the state of the seas. The seas were anywhere from 2 to 6 feet for an hour or less, and as much as 10 to 15 feet the rest of the time. The winds were an issue as well. But it was the confused waves breaking over all sides of the boat, tossing us back and forth, pitching us forward and backwards, and swaying us on a diagonal every now and then. Water, water, everywhere. I counted how often they were occurring and occasionally I reached 55 seconds but most of the time it was every 5 to 12 seconds."

I wonder what would have happened if they had rigged and deployed an improvised drogue off the stern. Something like a combination of a spare anchor and rode plus some dock lines and whatever other suitable stuff they had on board. Perhaps that would have stabilized the boat in a downwind/down sea attitude and given them the opportunity to regroup and rethink.

Any thoughts?

Jim