The Magic Windvane....

The windvane is the most amazing part on a cruising sailboat. And in my opinion also the most important, beside the sails of course. It is a construction on the back of the boat what is steering the boat without using any electric energy.

The theory: The unit uses an air rudder that you feather into the wind and lock it. As the apparent wind angle changes, it heels the air rudder over one way or the other. This movement is transmitted to a steering oar which is pivoted on its vertical axis in the water. Since the oar is moving through the water, this change of angle makes it veer to port or starboard. Lines attached to the oar, which run to the steering wheel in the cockpit and is steering the boat on course.

That sounds complicated but its one of the best inventions ever made on a sailboat.
We sail 24h with the windvane in almost every weather condition. That gives us time to do all the other nice things on passage, other than steering.

...but the windvane cannot make any energy!

Axel

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