Key Message: After losing a rudder mid-Atlantic, we turned a scavenger hunt for a replacement from Antiguan hurricane wrecks into a masterclass in family seamanship. Sailing our compromised catamaran off the anchor and beating upwind in 25+ knots, we demonstrated how a coordinated crew can manage complex maneuvers. While our pirate mission for a spare rudder failed, the journey succeeded in proving that our children are far more than passengers—they are capable, integral members of the crew.
Author: Shayne and Anna
When you lose a critical piece of equipment like a rudder in the middle of an ocean, you get creative. With Paikea still operating with only her starboard rudder, we hatched a plan: become scavengers. Rumors of hurricane-damaged catamarans in a marina on the north side of Antigua sent us on a pirate-style mission to find a spare rudder we could retrofit.
The journey itself, however, turned into a much more valuable demonstration of skilled boat handling and the capabilities of our young crew than the destination ever could.
The Mission: A Modern-Day Scavenger Hunt
The goal was simple. Sail from Jolly Harbour to the northern marina, locate a damaged catamaran of a similar size, and see if its rudders could be a viable temporary solution for Paikea. It was a long shot, but one we had to explore before committing to the time and expense of building a new one from scratch.
The First Challenge: Sailing Off the Anchor
To prove a point about our crew’s abilities, we decided to forego the engines and sail off the anchor in Jolly Harbour. This is a complex maneuver in a crowded anchorage at the best of times, but with only one rudder—and that one on the windward, less-effective side—it required precise coordination.
The entire family had a role:
- Harrison managed the anchor windlass, keeping tension on the chain as the boat began to move.
- Shayne was on the helm, fighting the boat’s tendency to round up uncontrollably.
- Anna and Olly were on the jib sheets, using the headsail as a primary steering tool.
- Ayden managed the main sheet from the aft beam.
By using the sails as “rudders in the air,” we successfully motored away from our anchorage under sail alone, a clear demonstration that our kids are active, competent crew.
The Sail North: A Windward Battle in Trade Winds
The beat north was a classic Caribbean upwind slog in 25-28 knots of trade winds. It was wet, lively, and exactly the kind of sailing that proves a boat’s seaworthiness. Despite our handicap, Paikea made good speed, consistently hitting over 8 knots as we tacked our way up the coast.
The Navigator’s Role
For the final leg, our son Olly took on the role of navigator. Using chartplotter, he guided us through the narrow, winding channel leading to the marina, calling out tacks and course corrections with impressive focus. It was a powerful, practical lesson in piloting and a testament to the skills young sailors can develop.
Mission Failed, Lessons Learned
Upon arrival, our scavenger hunt proved fruitless. The damaged boats were either not there or their rudders were unsuitable. In reality, the work to retrofit a mismatched, old rudder would have been nearly as much as building a new one. We had to tick that option off the list.
While we didn’t find our prize, the sail was a success. It was a day of incredible hands-on learning for our crew, a demonstration of what a family can accomplish together at sea, and another chapter in our ongoing story of problem-solving on Paikea.
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If you have not seen our series on losing a rudder 800nm offshore then start with our blog post and video on Losing a Rudder 800nm from Land.