Next Race:

June 19, 2026
00
days
00
hours
00
minutes
00
seconds

Emergency Steering with a Drogue: A New Approach

April 11, 2014


Loading...
View on Instagram
 

Steering a boat that's lost her rudder is one of the most daunting problems a crew must anticipate and prepare to manage.  

The tests were done with a Swan 44 whose rudder had been removed
Drogue steering under power and sail was tested and videotaped on this rudderless Swan 44.

The Newport Bermuda Race Safety Requirement is:  “4.1 Steering in an Emergency: A yacht's crew shall be aware of multiple methods of steering the yacht with the rudder disabled, and shall have chosen and practiced one method and be prepared to demonstrate it while sailing both upwind and downwind.”

One method is dragging a drogue astern.  A new technique has been developed by Michael Keyworth, an experienced offshore sailor, a Newport Bermuda Race inspector, and a presenter at safety seminars.

His video, below, How to Steer with a Drogue: Don’t  Lose Your Boat When You Lose Your Rudder demonstrates emergency steering under power and sail using a Galerider.  Adam Loory produced the video.              

For additional information, see FAQ 4.1, Steering in an Emergency, http://bermudarace.com/entry/faq/

Latest Bermuda Race News


November 20, 2025

Blue Water Reflections

Pound for pound there is no sport like it in the world.

November 20, 2025

BROC Meets in Bermuda to Plan 100th Anniversary Celebration

What goes into planning a 100th anniversary? It is truly no small undertaking! Earlier this month, BROC held its annual Fall meeting at RBYC in Hamilton, highlighting the century-old international […]

October 30, 2025

100-Foot Palm Beach XI Becomes 100th Entry for 2026 Newport Bermuda Race, Celebrating 100 Years of CCA and RBYC Partnership

Formerly Wild Oats XI, one of the world’s most celebrated ocean-racing yachts, will race as Palm Beach XI under the new ownership of Palm Beach Motor Yachts Photo: Wild Oats […]



Safe Harbor Marinas logo
SUPPORTERS

Interested in becoming a 2026 Sponsor?, Contact [email protected]
or check out our Sponsorship Guide