[Rhodes22-list] Balanced Helm

David Rasberry rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
Tue, 27 Aug 2002 12:44:09 -0400


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Joe,

Its easier to define in terms of what happens if you let go of the tiller.
If you let go of the tiller and the boat turns nose into the wind, you have
weather helm. If you let go and the boat turns away from the wind, you have
lee helm. Balanced helm is when the boat maintains course with no hand on
the tiller. Assuming the rig is reasonably well tuned, and wind is coming
from anywhere forward of dead abeam,you should be able to steer the boat
with the sails alone by adjusting the relative trim of main and genoa. This
is fun to play with in light to moderate air, and you will quickly learn
about proper sail trim and rig tuning. Rudder and centerboard trim can
affect balance too.
Traveler position and outhaul tension affect mainsail trim on an IMF rig,
sheet lead position is an important variable of genoa trim.

Razz
  -----Original Message-----
  From: rhodes22-list-admin@rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-admin@rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of Ware, Joseph W.
  Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 8:28 AM
  To: 'rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org'
  Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Balanced Helm


  As long as we are here, help me get it straight.  I have a mental block
with lee and weather helm.  If the wind is coming over the port side, I am
on a port tack.  If the boat is trying to head into the wind, I. E. bow to
port, and I am sitting on the high side, the port side, and I am puling the
tiller toward me, I. E. trying to head the boat away from the wind to
starboard, which is this lee or weather helm?  Is the opposite true?  If I
was pushing the tiller award me, I. E. trying to head the boat into the wind
to port...

  I be confused.

  Also in light air, I am balanced.  I have issues only as the wind picks
up, I'm trying to understand the dynamics.  I know I need to roll in some of
the genny to stabilize the boat.

  Joe
  W/V/ Whisper

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Roger Pihlaja [mailto:cen09402@centurytel.net]
  Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 8:12 AM
  To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
  Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Balanced Helm


  Mary Lou, Joe, Et All,

  If you are having lee helm with the 175% genoa in light air, then consider
trying the following before you lengthen the forestay:

  Slack off slightly on the mainsail's outhaul on the boom.  This will
increase the fullness or maximum draft in the mainsail's shape.  In light
air, increasing the draft on the mainsail will power it up relative to the
genoa, which should move the sail plan's center of effort aft & thus
decrease your lee helm. (& make you go faster as well!)  The downside is
that the new sail shape will be less forgiving of sail trimming & helmsman
errors.  i.e., the "groove" will be narrower.

      +

  Tighten up the mainsail's leech line.  This will cause the mainsail's
leech to curve ("hook") to windward.  This will cause the mainsail's center
of effort to move aft, which will decrease lee helm.

      +

  Make certain you are using the main sheet & traveller properly.  Watch
your mainsail's leech telltales to be certain you are not overtrimming the
mainsail, thus causing the airflow to stall.  If you stall the airflow over
the mainsail, the sail plan's center of effort will move forward & increase
lee helm.

      +

  Make certain you are not overtrimming the genoa.  The exhaust airflow
coming off an overtrimmed genoa will blanket the mainsail & induce the
airflow on the leeward side of the mainsail to stall.  See above bullet
point


  If these techniques solve your light air lee helm issues; then, it will be
better than permanently raking the mast further aft, which will increase
weather helm under all conditions.  Remember, these sail shape adjustments
are subtle & a little bit of sail shape or sail trim change can have a
significant effect.

  Good luck!

  Roger Pihlaja
  S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D160521616-27082002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Joe,=20
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D160521616-27082002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D160521616-27082002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =
size=3D2>Its=20
easier to define in terms of what happens if you let go of the tiller. =
If you=20
let go of the tiller and the boat turns nose into the wind, you have =
weather=20
helm. If you let go and the boat turns&nbsp;away from the wind, you have =
lee=20
helm. Balanced helm is when the boat maintains course with no hand on =
the=20
tiller. Assuming the rig is reasonably well tuned, and wind is coming =
from=20
anywhere forward of dead abeam,you should be able to steer the boat with =
the=20
sails alone by adjusting the relative trim of main and genoa. This is =
fun to=20
play with in light to moderate air, and you will quickly learn about =
proper sail=20
trim and rig tuning. Rudder and centerboard trim can affect balance=20
too.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D160521616-27082002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2>Traveler position and outhaul tension affect mainsail trim on =
an IMF rig,=20
sheet lead position is an important variable of&nbsp;genoa=20
trim.&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D160521616-27082002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D160521616-27082002><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff =

size=3D2>Razz</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
  size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
  rhodes22-list-admin@rhodes22.org=20
  [mailto:rhodes22-list-admin@rhodes22.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Ware, =
Joseph=20
  W.<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 27, 2002 8:28 AM<BR><B>To:</B>=20
  'rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org'<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Rhodes22-list] =
Balanced=20
  Helm<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D711002212-27082002><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>As=20
  long as we are here, help me get it straight.&nbsp; I have a mental =
block with=20
  lee and weather helm.&nbsp; If the wind is coming over the port side, =
I am on=20
  a port tack.&nbsp; If the boat is trying to head into the wind, I. E. =
bow to=20
  port, and I am sitting on the high side, the port side, and I am =
puling the=20
  tiller toward me, I. E. trying to head the boat away from the wind to=20
  starboard, which is this lee or weather helm?&nbsp; Is the opposite=20
  true?&nbsp; If I was pushing the tiller award me, I. E. trying to head =
the=20
  boat into the wind to port...</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D711002212-27082002><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#0000ff=20
  size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D711002212-27082002><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#0000ff=20
  size=3D2><SPAN class=3D711002212-27082002><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>I=20
  be confused.</FONT></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D711002212-27082002><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#0000ff=20
  size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D711002212-27082002><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Also=20
  in light air, I am balanced.&nbsp; I have issues only as the wind =
picks up,=20
  I'm trying to understand the dynamics.&nbsp; I know I need to roll in =
some of=20
  the genny to stabilize the boat.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D711002212-27082002><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#0000ff=20
  size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D711002212-27082002><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#0000ff=20
  size=3D2>Joe</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D711002212-27082002><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>W/V/=20
  Whisper</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D711002212-27082002><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#0000ff=20
  size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
  size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Roger Pihlaja=20
  [mailto:cen09402@centurytel.net]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, August 27, =
2002 8:12=20
  AM<BR><B>To:</B> rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> =
[Rhodes22-list]=20
  Balanced Helm<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Mary Lou, Joe, Et All,</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If you are having lee helm with the =
175% genoa in=20
  light air, then consider trying the following before you lengthen the=20
  forestay:</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Slack off slightly on the mainsail's =
outhaul on=20
  the boom.&nbsp; This will increase the fullness or maximum draft in =
the=20
  mainsail's shape.&nbsp; In light air, increasing the draft on the =
mainsail=20
  will power it up relative to the genoa, which should move the sail =
plan's=20
  center of effort aft &amp; thus&nbsp;decrease your lee helm. (&amp; =
make you=20
  go faster as well!)&nbsp; The downside is that the new sail shape will =
be less=20
  forgiving of sail trimming &amp; helmsman errors.&nbsp; i.e., the =
"groove"=20
  will be narrower.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; +</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tighten up the mainsail's leech =
line.&nbsp; This=20
  will cause the mainsail's leech to curve ("hook") to windward.&nbsp; =
This will=20
  cause the mainsail's center of effort to move aft, which will decrease =
lee=20
  helm.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; +</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Make certain you are using the main =
sheet &amp;=20
  traveller properly.&nbsp; Watch your mainsail's leech telltales to be =
certain=20
  you are not overtrimming the mainsail, thus causing the airflow to=20
  stall.&nbsp; If you stall the airflow over the mainsail, the sail =
plan's=20
  center of effort will move forward &amp; increase lee =
helm.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; +</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Make certain you are not overtrimming =
the=20
  genoa.&nbsp; The exhaust airflow coming off an overtrimmed genoa will =
blanket=20
  the mainsail &amp; induce the airflow on the leeward side of the =
mainsail to=20
  stall.&nbsp; See above bullet point</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If these techniques solve your light =
air lee helm=20
  issues; then, it will be better than permanently raking the mast =
further aft,=20
  which will increase weather helm under all conditions.&nbsp; Remember, =
these=20
  sail shape adjustments are subtle &amp; a little bit of sail shape or =
sail=20
  trim change can have a&nbsp;significant effect.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Good luck!</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Roger Pihlaja</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>S/V Dynamic Equilibrium</FONT></DIV>
  =
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is=20
  intended solely for the use of the individual or entity named in this =
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