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Weather helm

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 8:09 pm
by dart1909
Having recently come back to the Sprint i have noticed whilst sailing i seem to have quit a lot of weather helm .rig is on 3 rd hole up from the bottom .Is this normal .feels like i am always fighting or pulling at the rudders which cant be fast. Have tried one hole up which improves it a bit .what are the thoughts on this please
Malcolm .

Re: Weather helm

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 9:18 pm
by Brian Phipps
Windsport technical support .
I think you should first double check your rudder system, and rudder blades are in good order, no slackness or ability for the blade to move back when in the lock down position.
Brian
Windsport SP15 technical support.

Re: Weather helm

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 1:22 pm
by dart1909
Yes Rudders are good all tight .and checked alighnment .all seem okay .

Re: Weather helm

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:20 pm
by Bob Carter
So why not crank the mast further forward? 3rd hole from the top is more normal but of course that depends on the length of the shrouds which can vary quite a bit. I reckon with the sail hoisted and the bows pointed into the wind on land you should not be able to go block-to-block on the main sheet no matter how hard you sheet-in on the main sheet. If you can crank the mast forward until you cannot.
Cheers
Bob

PS Do you own boat 1909? If so, are you selling it or have you recently bought it? The reason I ask is I see it is for sale on our website so if you recently bought it you may need to contact Liam, our web master, to take it off the list. :wink:

Re: Weather helm

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:52 pm
by Liam
These measurements may be of use.

http://www.shanklinsailingclub.com/cont ... ements.php

A hypotenuse of about 22 and a half feet with forestay movement a little over a foot seems to be about right.

Re: Weather helm

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:44 pm
by dart1909
Used to own 1909 .sold it ages ago .just never changed my profile name. TA

Re: Weather helm

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:55 pm
by Bob Carter
dart1909 wrote:Used to own 1909 .sold it ages ago .just never changed my profile name. TA
OK. Understood.
Cheers
Bob

PS. You Yorkshire guys are hard to keep up with. Do you know Robin Boardman by any chance? :wink:

Re: Weather helm

Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 6:20 pm
by dart1909
I no the name but never met him .
Thanks for the advice .

Re: Weather helm

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 10:38 am
by Bob Carter
Bob Carter wrote:[You Yorkshire guys are hard to keep up with. Do you know Robin Boardman by any chance? :wink:
Talk of the devil - Robin has just sold 1988 :roll:

Re: Weather helm

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 2:52 pm
by Robert
Easiest way to counter weather helm is to sail the boat as flat as you can (may need some sail control adjustment) and/or simply move your weight back a bit.