The lower bearing has to be at the most lowest point in the housing!

if this is not the case in your boat, i would immediatly go the the next crane and lift the boat! Take out the rudder and check it. Taking out the rudder is in the crane a simple work.

Just pushing the bearing back down will not save you from the same problem again, as the bearing could walk up again.

I do not know how this could have happened, but i would not sail one single  mile with the bearing in the wrong position. It could end in a desaster by breaking of housing or the shaft or the rudder and sinking the boat!

Agree!

Looking carefully at the pictures indicate that the bearinghouse has come loose from the polester tube. I have no idea how to permanent fix this.

Perhaps take the rudder out then glue back the bearinghouse in the right place.

I would not sail in this case. I the polester tube is damaged the boat might flood!

Please contact JEFA marine  https://jefa.com/" rel="nofollow - https://jefa.com/

As a little more background, I noticed the problem a couple of nights ago after spending a night at anchor where current pushed the boat in one direction while wind drove small waves at the rear of the boat from the other.  I suspect that might have produced movement in the rudder that worked the bearing up the shaft—although the bearing could have been moving slowing over the 2100NM since leaving Texas.  To the best of my knowledge, we haven’t run aground. There is no visual damage to the rudder, the shaft, or the upper assembly.  The only visual damage is some gelcoat wearing off at the bottom of the hull.

I tried to tap on the bearing assembly this morning to see if I could get it to move down but did not have any luck, so we are going to take it slow in the light wind the next few days.

I think this is a 2 person job. Try tap the bearing 2 places diagonally meanwhile the other person is turning the wheel from side to side.

The buoyancy of the rudder might jam it to one side.

But try to get expert advice from JEFA first.

If the polester/glasfiber tube comes loose it is a very difficult situation to deal with. The lower part of the tube is below the waterline. If this happens it is perhaps better to jettison the rudder.  

This picture is of the Kalisto that sunk during a regatta. 

Video minut 2.40 shows the damage

https://vimeo.com/47517047" rel="nofollow - https://vimeo.com/47517047

 From an article in German it was stated that the helmsman and 2 crew in the cockpit had a collision that felt much lesser than a grounding on a sandbank. They saw a shadow of a piece of floating timber or a barrel.

They were unable to stop the flooding because the rudder-stock moved from side to side.

https://www.yacht.de/regatta/alle_news/da-ist-ein-traum-versunken" rel="nofollow - https://www.yacht.de/regatta/alle_news/da-ist-ein-traum-versunken

The polyester/glassfiber tube I am referring to is the green coloured tube seen on your picture 2+3. This green tube is about 5mm thick and it comes from JEFA Marine. The tube comes with the bearing-house glued into place. 

Older Hanse models had a Aluminium tube and a gaitor but now it is common with the green 130mm tube with self-adjusting bearing from JEFA. The self-adjusting bearing is a large white ball containing rollers. This ball sites in the bearing-house. To have enough strength the bearing house should push against the tube that again pushes against the hull.

In your case the forces of the rudder now only push against the tube.

But the risk of flooding might be low if Hanse has put the green tube behind enough mass. The rudder should break off first - not the tube.

Your picture 1 shows that Hanse has built a wall and cover supporting the green tube. If this area is watertight and strong enough you are probably safe from an accident like the Kallisto.

But if the green tube is damaged it will not be easy to replace.

Hope you get this resolved and apologies I scared you unnecessary with my last posting

Jefa has also been super helpful as they quickly responded with the recommendation to replace the bearing and the part numbers—as well as offering to consult the yard replacing the bearing.

Good news to hear you arrived safely to port.

Did JEFA  give information on what glue to use the fix the bearing back in place? Sikaflex 291 or 292 or perhaps 3M 5200 would be my guess.

/H8jer