From: Rachel Hibberd – World Cruising Club
Sent: December-02-11
To: Will Curry
Subject: Hydrovane comments from Watergaw ARC

Hi,

Thought you’d all like this from the log of Watergaw in the ARC:

——

We have not said much about equipment, except for mentioning things that have given us trouble (even if self- inflicted, like the spin pole), but some folk (the geeks amongst you) might be interested. If we have nothing more important to impart, we will pick something – good or bad – and give you a few words about it.

For today’s sermon, we will talk about the Hydrovane. There are several types of wind vane, which control the rudder and course of sailing boats, and avoid the sometimes tiresome task of hand steering (though most of us enjoy this, but not for 3000 miles!).

I took a bit of persuading that investing a small lottery win in a less than pretty (sorry, but it has to be said) addendum to the stern of a yacht was a smart thing to do. They are the preserve of the anorak brigade and sea hippies, and let them keep them, I thought! With some reluctance, we acquired one and had it fitted in Gibraltar, as much because it is also a spare rudder in case a passing whale (see earlier post) deliberately or accidentally destroys your primary steering gear with a casual flick of a tail. Missing St Lucia and hitting Brazil because you can’t control your course would not be popular with all of the crew.

We gave it a fair workout in the western Med, not in Atlantic conditions, but began to warm to its attractions – at about the same rate as we worked out its idiosyncrasies (like how you have to strip down to your underwear or worse and go off the back of the boat to put the rudder on (funds are available to buy the negatives of the photos taken by the hen party boat off Formentera island) ).

We played around with it en route to the Canaries with the full crew, and started to really understand it’s potential. It does not whine and groan in the way the boat’s main autopilot does (or a grumpy crew mate!). It seemed to cope well with big swells, though it does take a bit of time to return us to our original course if we have skied down a big one.

Since we left the Canaries, it has steered the boat faultlessly for almost all of the 1400 miles we have run. It clicks and clacks a bit, sometimes clunks when it has to make a big course correction, and responds (slowly but steadily) to tweaking of the control line from the cockpit. All in all, a worthy addition to the crew complement and proof positive that even an old cynic can be persuaded to revise his opinion. 8 out of 10 (lifting rudder would get it full marks)

——

Rachel Hibberd
Communications Executive

World Cruising Club
120 High Street, Cowes PO31 7AX, UK