Hi Neal, thanks for the alert and pictures. I have hull #100 and my rudder post differs in design. Instead of set screws and weld/braze holding the cap to the post, I have one hole thru the post and and a thru bolt at the cap end that secures it.

Sorry no pics, but take a look at 395.jpg (first row) & 1027.jpg (second to last row) under the "rigging and layout" gallery. Mine is identical to 395, but 1027 appears to have a similar thru bolt going thru cap and rudder post.

In a non-rescue scenario, I have carried a long post and even a 3 lbs sand filled hammer to drive a stuck rudder post out. I had planned on cinching line to the blade and post before hand, maybe even lower a part of my shy kite to act as a wet-drift catch.

Glad your failure happened within the Bay.

JB

:: We suffered a dangerous rudder post failure on e27 #91
:: during the Round the Rocks Race this past Saturday.
:: Sailing upwind in moderate breeze and small chop. I have
:: posted some photos under the gallery "Rudder Post
:: Failure". Appears to be a failure of a welded or brazed
:: joint between the rudder post cap and tube. Thankfully
:: the rudder is buoyant so we did not lose it, it floated
:: within the guide tube until we got back to the dock
:: under tow. I assume this design is common within the
:: fleet so I urge you to inspect this joint to prevent
:: additional failures in the fleet.