When the Wind Dies – Tricks for Drifting Home Without a Paddle

 

When the Wind Dies – Tricks for Drifting Home Without a Paddle

Every sailor knows the feeling. The sails are set, the course is clear, and then—silence. The wind that carried you upstream drops away, leaving the boat to drift with the current. On a river like the Thames, it happens more often than you’d like.

So what do you do when you’re stuck in the calm?

Traditional Tricks

• Weight Shifts: Move crew weight gently from side to side to scull the rudder and gain a little headway.

• Rudder Sculling: With practice, you can make slow progress by moving the tiller in a figure-eight motion.

• Current and Momentum: Sometimes, all you can do is use the flow of the river and steer carefully to keep pointing the right way.

Our Secret Weapon – The e-Propulsion EcoLite

We’ve fitted our dinghy with an e-Propulsion EcoLite electric motor. It’s light, quiet, and runs off a solar-charged battery. At 2–3 mph, it’s not breaking any records, but it will happily bring us home when the breeze disappears. Unlike petrol outboards, there’s no noise, no fumes—just a gentle hum.

Why It Matters

For learners, losing the wind can be frustrating. Having a reliable, eco-friendly backup means you spend more time enjoying the river and less time worrying about how to get back to the mooring. It’s also a great reminder that sailing is about working with the conditions—whether that’s making do with calm water or calling on a little electric help.