Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson St., Vancouver
10 Jan 2024 1900h - 2130h
Members $5 / Non-Members $10
vanspeakers@bluewatercruising.org
Dr. Jeanne LeBlanc and her husband have been sailing and cruising for decades aboard their boat Lucky Dog. In April 2023, they experienced their entire rudder snapping off in the middle of the Pacific Ocean as they crossed from Mexico to Marquesas, ultimately necessitating their rescue by a following cruiser going to Hiva Oa. Weeks later, they sailed hundreds of miles with a hired boat and captain to successfully find and rescue Lucky Dog, install a newly built emergency rudder, and sail her back through big seas and dangerous conditions nineteen days later.
The presentation will discuss immediate and later psychological impacts of this type of large-scale event in order to help sailors understand what are the normal and expected emotional responses to disasters at sea; the cognitive and practical implications–both immediately and longer term–as well as various methods to help optimize coping and effectiveness throughout. Finally, tips for supporting your fellow cruisers who have experienced devastating events will be provided, in order to help us all continue to be the supportive community we aspire to be.
Note: Payment is now required for virtual attendance via Zoom – see below
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Hybrid Meeting Format
In-Person Attendees:
- Doors open at 7:00 and meeting starts at 7:30pm
- Cost: $5/Members, $10/Non-Members
Virtual Attendees:
- Click here to register for and purchase your virtual meeting ticket and receive the Zoom meeting invitation.
- Please note that you must be signed in to the BCA website to get the member price.
- Cost: Members – $5.00 per connected device; Non-Members, $10 per connected device.
Note: Due to the minimal cost of virtual tickets, and an equal or greater cost to BCA when issuing refunds, no refunds will be issued unless the Vancouver Chapter is unable to deliver the Club Night via Zoom.
We participated in a lost rudder episode in 2006 mid Atlantic with a somewhat different outcome. The vessel, a J44 lost its rudder about 1000 NM east of Barbados. Eventually a tow was offered by another cruiser which proved unworkable. The crippled vessel was abandoned for the towing vessel. Some 30 days later the rudderless, crewless vessel swept up on the windward shore of Barbados. By then the crew had disembarked the towing vessel in Barbados and flown home to the USA.
If interested, the full story can be found at:
https://www.sail-world.com/news/234594/Memories-of-a-Circumnavigation-Atlantic-Crossing
The actual incident is around page 3 after the Cape Verdes segment.
Hugh Bacon
Thanks for sharing that, Hugh! Very sad for First Light. I’m glad things turned out better for Lucky Dog!
Out of curiosity, Lucky Dog was what make of boat? Builder and year? Many thanks.
Lucky Dog is a Catalina 470.
Hate to hear that. We put a new rudder in to a ’07 400 mkii. Degraded ss post. Ruddercraft built the new one. Anyway, had to ask. Thanks.
Yes, it was after that episode we began to carry an emergency rudder. Shooduv Cudav much sooner in our voyages.