A high performance full spade rudder for ships includes a rudder blade, a rudder trunk and a rudder post. The rudder blade widens from the leading edge to a central area which constitutes the widest point of the rudder profile. The rudder blade profile tapers from the central area to a narrow rear area and widens again from the rear area to the trailing edge. A bearing is placed in an inner longitudinal bore of the rudder trunk for bearing the rudder post, wherein the bearing penetrates with its free end into a recess, taper or the like in the rudder blade. No bearing is provided between the rudder blade and the rudder trunk. The bearing for the rudder post is placed in the rudder trunk in the area of the free end of the rudder trunk.