From: Jan Kamenz
Sent: 16 May 2024
To: Will Curry, Richard Minielly
Subject: Experience with the Hydrovane emergency tiller and estimate

Dear Hydrovane Team,

I had an exciting and perilous adventure on my voyage from West Palm Beach, USA, to Bermuda. The journey, which is only a few days behind me, took place aboard my Jeanneau 43 “Rocinante”. Since 2022, I’ve had your wind vane steering system, and I love it. I call it the “Lord”.

I had also purchased the offshore spare parts kit and emergency tiller back then, hoping I would never need them.

During the aforementioned voyage to Bermuda from May 6th, 2024, to May 14th, 2024, on May 10th, 2024, at the position 29.42,2N and 073.19,1W, approximately halfway, we collided with an unknown object at 02:30am local time. As a result, we discovered that our rudder was not only damaged but completely lost. Thus, the Hydrovane emergency tiller was used for the first time. And how?

A frontal passage brought more wind on Friday and Saturday, with wave heights rising to over 3m. These conditions were actually great for excellent and fast sailing. But with a emergency steering system?

After overcoming our initial shock, we began to organize ourselves and, as mentioned, attach and use the emergency tiller. We quickly realized how strenuous it was to steer without a rudder and how easily the ship veers off course downwind and into the wind. But we learned quickly and got a feel for this unusual steering sensation.

Our goal was to sail about 150sm closer to Bermuda to be prepared in case of emergency to cover the remaining distance under motor. Initially, the weather forecast gave us hope that the weather would calm down, but unfortunately, that was not the case. Except for brief periods of relaxation, the wind remained at 18-25 knots and the wave height at 2.5m – 3m. From Friday on, the wind gradually shifted from SW to NNO, forcing us to sail close-hauled towards the end.

There were only two of us on board, which meant we had no breaks except for sleeping and eating. Standing on the platform steering 12 hours a day. Nonetheless, we reached Bermuda on the afternoon of May 14th, 2024, after almost 500sm of manual steering with the Hydrovane and a missing rudder under the ship. For the last approximately 300 nautical miles, we sailed with motor assistance, as we found that the flow of water over the Hydrovane rudder facilitated sailing or increased the steering effect when the motor was engaged.

Without the Hydrovane, I wouldn’t have a ship today. It’s as simple as that. And even though I had doubts at times about whether we could make it purely in terms of strength, there’s always a little reserve to take one step further. In any case, I’m extremely grateful for your product and for having made the decision to purchase it back then.

That’s the brief report of our journey on the Rocinante. Unfortunately, after reaching Bermuda, we discovered that something was wrong with the Hydrovane. Apparently, something is loose inside the shaft, as it has about a 1 cm vertical play, and the tiller unit rests directly on the metal of the control unit and has already begun to grind the metal. In my pictures, you can also see a black round part on the back that is completely loose.

I would like to ask you to try to determine, based on the photos, what exactly is broken and to send me a cost estimate for a replacement part that I can submit to my insurance. Since we are quite sure that what damaged and tore off our rudder also collided with the Hydrovane, it would be interesting to know if, in your opinion, the damage to the upper part was also caused by this.

[Editor’s Note: It was discovered that Jan’s Hydrovane had been damaged in the same incident as the rudder. Repairs were made in Bermuda and they were able to successfully complete their Atlantic crossing!]

Thank you very much, and I hope for a prompt response, as I am currently stranded here in Bermuda, with hurricane season approaching, and I need to continue my journey.

Best regards,

Jan