Steering Paddles

[ricardo de oliveira]

I had built, 10 years ago, a Melanesia, which is the James Wharram's interpretation of the polinesian outrigger canoe. I "ocidentalized" her a bit then, with a standing lug rig and a push pull tiller.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p88ed85cd57649c0543bb27a17f9cf893/e85f9fba.jpg

(Sorry, but I cut that sail myself...)
Now I moved to a place in notheast Brazil where this kinds of crafts really makes sensehttp://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pc78cf7cb84de05be1a5b4fdde12a8d36/e85fa833.jpg

I even ordered a crab claw sail for her.:D

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p34e0ba592dbaccd97831186732f1bb3f/e85fa07f.jpg

And to complete the ethnic scenario I need now to fix a nice steering paddle. And I'm afraid I'm not going to steer her decently in the 20 knots winds we have around here. Does that thing really works? Anyone knows the tricks about it?
Thanks in advance.
Ricardo