I have a main sail with 1 reef and a 160 genoa on my Coronado 25. When sailing with the main unreefed I get a significant weather helm when the wind gets to 8-10 knots. At 15-20 knots the weather helm is unmanageable and even with a 30 degree tiller the boat will round up into the wind. when the main is reefed the weather helm is better but still not "balanced" at 10-15 knots, at 20 or above the tiller has to be at 15 degrees plus, which feels like too much drag. My mast is near vertical now so no rake to reduce, I can't move the mast forward without a major job and other Coronado 25 owners tell me they don't have this much weather helm. Any ideas?
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Sounds to me like
your 160 is simply overpowering your rudder. If this sail furls, try furling it up to various sizes until you achieve balance. Or perhaps a new and smaller sized headsail should be considered. On my H28.5, for example, I can't sail comfortably in winds much over 15 kts with an unreefed main and a 150 genoa up as I get way too much heel and the boat wants to head up. I roll up the headsail to whatever size I need to achieve balance.
your 160 is simply overpowering your rudder. If this sail furls, try furling it up to various sizes until you achieve balance. Or perhaps a new and smaller sized headsail should be considered. On my H28.5, for example, I can't sail comfortably in winds much over 15 kts with an unreefed main and a 150 genoa up as I get way too much heel and the boat wants to head up. I roll up the headsail to whatever size I need to achieve balance.
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