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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
25 blister repairs, Bill Miller had requested that the Auckland hydrodynamics guru Gray Dixon design a new rudder for her. Miller wanted a rudder which would not only give the boat a smaller turning circle, allowing for quick mark roundings with total control, but one that would also help to eliminate the persistent broaching issue. Deep spade rudders had made an appearance overseas but they had yet to be fully refined. Dixon’s long, high aspect ratio balanced spade rudder was fitted to Pionnier, and Miller was pleased with its performance. Of course others owners wanted one, the Class Rules were amended accordingly. Dixon was thankful that his first design was used on a Stewart 34 commenting; “They’re (the Stewarts) so well balanced that any little thing affects their performance, so you know when you’ve got things right. When I fitted one to another boat I had to go back and really study the design to understand why.” Sails The original sail plan devised by Bob Stewart for his 34-footer was nearly ideal for the yacht as it is sailed today. While other parts of the boat’s configuration have been tweaked a bit, the overall sail plan remains fairly true to Bob Stewart’s original design. In the early years however, the Stewarts were configured with only 2,800 pounds of lead in the keel and a 16 foot long spinnaker pole. This was on a boat with a mast to bow or “J” measurement of only 12 feet and whose “barn door” rudder was mediocre at best. When steering down wind in a fresh breeze, the boat was a handful. The Patiki’s tendency to perform spectacular broaches or “spin-outs” when under spinnaker, earned the class the nickname “tip truck” for the first 10 years of their history. This rather undesirable and embarrassing handling characteristic no doubt put off many potential owners/skippers and,more importantly,their wives/ admirals. When Lloyd Macky (Prion) became Secretary of the Stewart Association in the early 1970’s he began a campaign to update the class rules so that the Stewart boats could be appropriately modified to their betterment. Three of the positive results, which took place during or soon after his term as Secretary were: Lead ballast in the keel was increased by 560 pounds to 3,360 pounds which lowered the center of gravity, increased righting moment, and reduced heeling. The adoption of a one design, high aspect ratio spade rudder. This greatly improved steering control of the boats while The Gray Dixon designed rudder Stewart Association Collection The original Bob Stewart rudder Stewart Association Collection