k-bay cruiser wrote:
So, I mostly sail with the disabled rudder just using the sail and daggerboard to balance the boat (I never have the peddle drive in). I learned this technique when I was a kid going through safety drills. Anyway, by adjusting the rake of the daggerboard and the furl amount of the sail and the amount of sheet, one can sail almost any point of sail except really close-hauled and directly downwind and can make modest turns. It will readily hold a somewhat straight course. Gust and chop may turn the boat slightly, but it will return afterwards. .
I tried this yesterday, but I couldn't for the life of me find any configuration that would keep me from pointing upwind. I am familiar with balancing the helm of a sailboat, and do that all the time on big boats, but everything I tried ended up the same way - the boat pointing right into the wind. If I let out some sheet, the boat would steer up until the sail flogged. I had the drive out, but no plug.
It did work slightly with a very small amount of sail out, but not enough to sail practically.
Any hints?