Disaster (or at least broken parts)

After all I went thought to get Spark seaworthy and ready for the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival here in St. Michaels Md. It all came for naught. This long weekend was punctuated by strong winds and almost Small Craft Advisories as the forcasted 10 to 15 mph winds with gusts to 20 turned to 15 to 20 with gusts to 25. Not the place to take an over canvassed boat that weighs all of three hundred pounds. 

A three hour window of decent wind tempted me into going out, thankfully I did not make it far before something broke, something important, the rudder. Six screws hold the tiller to the rudder head and all but one let loose, leaving me with just enough control to put her into the wind so I could lower sails and row back.

At least it didn't break a mile or five from the dock