[Public-List] Weather helm

[Gordon Laco via Public-List]

You're bang on correct, George.

Altering the structure of the boat to cope with worn out sails is not the
way to deal with weather helm.

I used to sit on the Board of Directors of a sail training organization...
One of my fellow directors was an engineer of Hungarian origins.  I used to
see him sometimes catching my eye across the table, then he'd slowly reach
over his head with his right arm and scratch his left ear.   I asked him
what that meant.

He said (imagine a Hungarian accent...)  "Gordon.  The correct, direct and
efficient way to scratch your left ear is with your left hand.  They are
trying to do it with their right.  It's possible, but not correct, direct
and efficient".

Brilliant.

Gord #426 Surprise


On 2016-02-23, 11:19 AM, "George Dinwiddie via Public-List"
<public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> I keep hearing people talking about reengineering the rigging of the
> boat to reduce weather helm, and it makes me think about when we first
> bought Calypso and it had significant weather helm. I used to sail with
> a large "bubble" in the luff of the main to keep her under control.
> 
> Then we got a new main, and the problem went away. The old main had a
> delightfully smooth shape, but was stretched out of shape for all but
> light air days. When the wind was normal, the lift over the belly of the
> sail was more than the jib could counteract.
> 
> Something to consider.
> 
>   - George