Wind wants to force the boat on a different tack

[Bob Greenfield]

OK. this is the situation. On either tack, we were at a 45 degree angle to the wind (15-20 knots). We had the mainsail at the first reef and the headsail was out about 60%. Yet the wind still wanted to force the boat (29.5) on the opposite tack even though the helm was hard over. What causes this? Should we have pulled the headsail in even more so? Please advise.Thank you

 

[Miles]

Weather Helm?

Sounds like you're describing excessive weather helm. The boat wants to round up into the wind because the center of effort (somewhere on the mainsail)is aft of the center of lateral resistance (keel). This makes the boat pivot around the keel and point up. What you want to do is depower the mainsail. You could put another reef in or try easing the mainsheet and/or traveller down to spill some wind. Hunters seem especially prone to this but once you get the trim right the boat will go faster and be a lot easier to manage. My 340 usually starts acting up around 15 knots or so. Have fun!Miles

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Weatherhelm, cont.

When you are experiencing this tendency, is the boat heeled excessively? I suspect it is and that the situation is exactly what Miles is describing in his post, but there is at least one other solution. If the boat is not heeling a lot, you might try moving the center of effort forward by letting the jib out further. This would balance the force in the mainsail and allow the boat to track straighter. This is only the case if it doesn't cause the boat to heel. Rember: flatter is faster.Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Ron Barrow]

Mast Rake Aft?

Bob: Check the rake of the mast to the aft. Bend in the mast will help you to flatten the main to depower. However, aft rake in the mast will give you more weather helm than you want in heavy conditions. Slanting the stick back increases the amount of sail behind the keel and causes her to push into the wind. The 29.5 already has a bunch of main sail behind the mast. As Justin suggested, balance is the key. The jib on the 29.5 is not large. I would think that more jib in the conditions you describe might help with that balance. The big roachy main that helps you move so well in light breezes requires some finesse in heavy air. I have noticed that many 29.5 sailors on our lake ease the mainsheet slightly and pull the boom to windward allowing the top of the main to twist, spilling air and helping to keep the boat on her feet. On our 33.5 letting the helm come up a little closer into the wind in gusts also helps keep her flatter and reduces the need for pushing the rudder hard over. If you are still overpowered, try going to the second reef in the main. Our boat is at least as fast when we have her comfortably under control, as when we are fighting like hell with the rail in the water. Not to mention there is less strain on the rig (& the nerves). Check out Brian Toss Rigging - www.briantoss.com - for tuning information. Good luck, Ron

 

[Dick McKee]

We dump air up high..

On our 430 we experience heavy weather helm at about 18k of wind. We cure it very easly and quickly by easing the main sheet and easing the vang. This allows the top of the sail to twist so is parallel to the wind thus dumping air up high. The amount we ease the sheet and vang control the amount of twist we induce in the sail...Good luckDick McKeeS/V Constellation