Rudder repairs

On the sail from Charleston SC to Spanish Cay in the Abacos we developed rudder problems that gradually got worse but fortunately held up long enough for us to get in safely. I will fill in the time and events that got us from there to West Palm Beach Florida in the next blog but after arriving this past Thursday it has been one very long day after another working on the rudder and at the end of the day have simply been too tired to write or even post on FB. It’s Monday morning and raining so I thought I would use the time to write a brief update before the sun comes out and we return to our work.

The rudder problems and its repair are illustrative of long term sailing and cruising. One is constantly faced with situations that require taking what is known, considering ones alternatives and then make the best decision based on what you know, your past experience and sometimes gut intuition. But often the decision has very serious consequences and a miscalculation can result in disaster. Sometimes its the decision as to when the weather will allow a passage, sometimes its where one can anchor that provides shelter from high winds or a storm and sometimes how to fix a rudder.

As I have worked on the rudder these past days, the following quote continues to reverberate in my mind and keeps me focused on doing it right without compromise -

"A sailor can no more hide his sins from the sea than a killer can hide the stain of murder from God. You cut corners, leave something done halfway to right, say to yourselves, 'Ah, that's good enough,' and the sea will find you out, boys, and she'll be a different god from the God of our fathers, because she'll show no mercy, nor forgiveness either."

The Voyage - Philip Caputo