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Weather Helm

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(@PIRATE39)
Posts: 139
Mate Registered
Topic starter
 
[#4585]

How do you get rid of weather helm with the spin up ?


 
Posted : July 8, 2014 10:29 pm
(@davefarmer)
Posts: 1104
Master Chief Registered
 

Are you sure it's weather helm, not lee helm?


 
Posted : July 9, 2014 1:46 am
(@kevinbatchelor)
Posts: 19
Member
 

Weather helm and lee helm are generally caused by the position of the main sail mast relative to the center of the boat. Try adjusting your mast rake. If you have too much weather helm move the rake... forward, (i think) and back will increase weather helm. Does that sound right?


 
Posted : July 9, 2014 7:36 am
(@fun2themax)
Posts: 82
Mate Registered
 

That is correct in general but not sure how the spin impacts it. I'm not spin literate but i would think the spin would introduce more of a lee affect. We'll have to see what the experts say.


 
Posted : July 9, 2014 9:02 am
André
(@catmodding)
Posts: 424
Chief Registered
 

Must be Lee helm with the kite up. Which is normal with an extra
17 or 19 Sqm in front of the mast.. Especially with low wind conditions.

Suggestion;
Sheet in the kite and steer as high as the kite will let you, forget the jib
and sheet in the main. Now, bear of and if the winds let you... have a nice
time !!

A


 
Posted : July 9, 2014 9:55 am
(@davefarmer)
Posts: 1104
Master Chief Registered
 

Lee helm with the spin up is to be expected, with so much additional sail area ahead of the center of lateral resistance. The overall goal is to get the boat balanced upwind, with a slight weather helm, which is primarily a product of mast rake and rudder rake. When the chute goes up you'll have lee helm, which as pointed out, is less noticeable as boatspeed picks up.

If you've got weather helm with the spin, something's way off.

Dave


 
Posted : July 9, 2014 4:31 pm
(@PIRATE39)
Posts: 139
Mate Registered
Topic starter
 

Yes it was lee helm. I was pinching very high running a hot angle to make the mark. I was having to push the rudder to keep it heated up.


 
Posted : July 9, 2014 5:45 pm
(@bacho)
Posts: 1502
Master Chief Registered
 

Sailing UNI? If it's a constant problem, a shorter spin pole may help.


 
Posted : July 10, 2014 1:31 am
(@PIRATE39)
Posts: 139
Mate Registered
Topic starter
 

No not Uni . Sailing with wife we took 2nd in the open spin and beat the F18 fleet boat for boat . Ripped my spin at the tack on the first day but sailed it through on a wing and a prayer. Barrowed a spin for Sunday and the tack started to rip so I snuffed it and finished old school Wild Thing.. Great weekend. New black spin from Calvert was on my doorstep when I got home from racing!!!


 
Posted : July 10, 2014 11:36 am
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