H34 tends to go to the wind

[waldenetkarine]

Hi,

I have a Hunter 34 and when sailing, she tends to go to the wind (I don't know how ti say that in English, but in French, if someone speak french, is "Ardent").

Have you the same pb? What can I do to to reduce this?
Maybe, I should try to reduce a bit the stay in order to put the mast more in front of the boat?

Thanks,

Walden

 

[Richard Bryer]

Weather helm is not uncommon with these boats I would think- especially if your main is not real flat and you have your mast raked back some. You can drop your traveller a bit and that should counter it. Make sure your main outhaul is tight, maybe ease the vang a bit and spill the air. What size headsail are you using- a small headsail plays into weather helm.
BTW I was not aware that was the French expression- interesting .

 

[Alan]

Yes, 34's are known for this. The major culprit is the main. As Richard says, an overly full main will induce weather helm. A nice flat main will greatly reduce this tendency. The other major factor is mast rake. Try reducing mast rake a small amount at a time by shortening the forestay. You will need to ease off on the cap shrouds and backstay to allow for this adjustment. Count the number of turns you take off the cap shrouds and always do an equal number on both sides.

 

[Allan12210]

Also on this boat it is best to reef early and reef deep. We never use the first reef point...always go right to the second reef point. That helps get the full part of the sail down on the boom. If it is blowing really hard dump the traveller all the way to leeward and sheet the main really tight. Also ease the jib. That helps decrease the helm. Other tricks we have employed include moving the jib sheet car back so the top of the jib twists off and spills wind up high. You can induce twist in the main the same way. Pull the traveller car up beyond the centerline of the boat and ease the mainsheet to return the boom back to the centerline. Tighten the vang to keep the boom from rising too much and the top of the sail will spill wind. Finally, in really high wind, drop the main entirely. Our boat sails quite well on a jib alone with a couple of turns on the roller furling. This automaticallly places the position of the genoa car back so the top can twist off. These tricks all can reduce weather helm. Just remember, in light air you will pass all your friends on the water.

Allan

 

[Alan]

Allan

Have to disagree with the traveler car to weather idea. Twisting off the top of the main is a good idea but this is accomplished by easing main sheet and/or traveler. Raising the traveler above center line only increases angle of attack and exaggerates the heeling effect.

 

[Allan12210]

Re: Allan

Alan,

I must have learned that one from Capt. Ron. Its always been a challenge to twist off the main enough and not wrap it around the spreaders.

I did forget to mention in the heavier air that the leech line should be loosened to avoid cupping the sail.

Allan

 

[Alan]

Allan

If you ease out the main sheet and apply vang the lower part of the main will tend to be more flat and help to keep it off the spreaders. As the puffs hit the traveler is the fastest and easiest response. The vang also moves the draft position forward.
When trimming becomes too much of a chore, a reef is the next best thing. When the reef goes in, start out with the main as flat as possible to keep the main less powered up.