Turbocles Rudder

The Turbocle rudder is a not a new concept in yachts and larger craft but it has neverbeen seen before in dinghies. The ‘lumpy’ leading edge provides you with a great advantage over your competitors. But how?

Well, flippers on humpback whales have non-smooth leading edges (lumps called tubercules), yet have greater ‘grip’ to the traditionally smooth leading edges of rudders. Despite being 40-50 feet long and weighing nearly 80,000 pounds, humpbacks can swim in circles tight enough to produce nets of bubbles only five feet across!

This amazing ability is due primarily to its non-conventional flippers. Sheets of water flowing over smooth sections break up into turbulent vortices as they cross the rudder while sheets of water passing between the tubercules maintain even channels of fast-moving water allowing the rudder to keep “grip” on the water at sharper angles and providing the ability to turn tighter corners, even at low speeds.

Tests have demonstrated the fluid dynamic improvements tubercules make.

32% reduction in drag,
8% improvement in lift
40% increase in angle of attack over smooth sections before stalling

The rudders can be made for any class with unrestricted rudder sections.