Article published in the June ’24 edition of Seahorse Magazine
When Michel Desjoyeaux appeared at the start of the 2008 Vendée Globe with a remote string-driven system to adjust the toe-in (or out) on Foncia’s twin-rudders it set people thinking… then he won the race
The origins of FourthCape’s current work on rudder Toe-In/Out goes back to 2011 and our early days running the Artemis Offshore Academy.
It was then that we learned of the importance of rudder Toe-In/Out in the solo Figaro 2 class.
In that fleet, on approach to a windward mark, the best sailors would disappear below, adjust their rudders and then re-appear for the rounding and the spinnaker set. Invariably they would then head off downwind in 25 knots under full control. Those less prepared would round the mark, set their kites, but then spend the downwind leg fighting for control and trying to pick a moment to nip below to adjust their rudders.
In 2019 we were asked to prepare one of the first Sun Fast 3300s to try to win the double-handed class in the Rolex Fastnet Race. We had six months to plan, and one of the performance enhancements we decided to develop was remote control capability of the rudder Toe-In/Out function.
The prototype, “E-Bar,” was installed and British sailors Henry Bomby and Hannah Diamond sailed to 2nd place overall. It was a fairly crude system, with no position sensor, and with control buttons located down below.
The evolution continued with on-deck buttons and a position sensor connected to instrument systems (B&G/NKE amongst others). By the 2021 Fastnet, the third version of E-Bar was fitted to the overall winning JPK1180, Sunrise, with the crew describing it as a “game-changer.” In the 2022 Round Britain and Ireland Race, six of the top-10 boats were fitted with E-Bars.
In amongst this development cycle, FourthCape has made standard versions for smaller twin-rudder boats – the Sun Fast 3200, 3300 and 3600s, as well as the JPK 1010, 1030, 1080 and 1180s, and most recently the new Bénéteau First 36. Custom and semi-custom yachts are benefitting too, with the system fitted on Neo Yachts 430s as well as the Carkeek 43, Scarlett Runner, a Ceccarelli 42, and two IRC 52s. The latest generation (V5) has a dedicated CANBUS that supports multiple keypads, and a mini controller that allows a base position to be stored, so the E-Bar can return to it’s base position at the touch of a button.
The E-Bar makes it easy to adjust the rudder Toe-In/Out in all conditions. It allows the windward rudder to be aligned to the water flow at various heel angles and at different boat speeds, as well as aligning it varying degrees of leeway. In strong conditions, more Toe-In can help maintain control and reduce the tendency to wipe-out, keeping average speeds up, and avoiding broaches which can be costly in both performance and financial terms.
Learn more about the E-BAR over on the product page HERE
