[Public-List] Weather helm

Tue Feb 23 09:19:10 PST 2016

I sailed a Star for a while...talk about "adjustable" those masts are
noodles!  But their mast section is designed for bend...tapered, etc.  Ours
are telephone poles in comparison!

Wes

On Tue, Feb 23, 2016 at 12:12 PM, Bill Wallace via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> Moving the mast is a standard way of adjusting the center of effort of the
> main sail - my own boat, Chewan #626 has an adjustable plate that allows,
> perhaps 4 cm of movement, and I've moved the mast about 2 cm forward, and
> even with new sails last year it makes a difference in behaviour that is
> worthwhile.   I agree that adjusting to a complete new position, eg 10 cm
> forward or something isn't something I would do, but small adjustments DO
> make a difference and are not what I would consider "reengineering" but
> really just adjusting for small differences in how the boat was
> constructed, small differences in sail design, typical conditions you sail
> under etc.
> Note that some boats actually have a ram that moves the base of the mast
> forward or backwards, then you can adjust it dynamically, although I think
> they use it more to control mast bend.
> You can potentially make the same sort of adjustment by adjusting the
> fore/back stays, but the two should actually both be done so you move the
> entire mast forward, not just the lower or upper half.
> You can also play adding a down-haul on the main to get the luff tighter,
> which is useful with older sails in moderate wind to keep the luff less
> baggy, and with new sails in higher winds to improve the luff shape,
> especially under gusts.
>
>     On Tuesday, February 23, 2016 11:28 AM, Gordon Laco via Public-List <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
>
>
>  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
>
>
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