Even if the shaft goes all the way through the rudder (as I think it should), if the webbing partially breaks or bends then the blade will turn sideways on the shaft without bending the shaft at all. This is how I read Doane's description.

I also think all bets are off regarding which way the rudder bent, how it bent and when it bent. I can imagine the rudder being 30* against its stop to port and the boat going backwards to starboard and bending the blade the other way. Or a wave coming from starboard and bending the blade the other way. Or the whole thing was mostly bent earlier and having the steering hard to port was simply putting the blade at centerline.

All of this is circumstantial until the boat is recovered. It does seem highly probable, though, that the rudder design and construction was not appropriate.

Mark