| Perhaps the most important aspect of sailing that a | | | | quick and easy to use. |
| skipper or helmsman can learn is how to balance the | | | | Given those conditions you will need to have great |
| boat. It's not something that a beginner can do | | | | rapport between the mainsheet hand on the traveller |
| because it involves a pretty high level of understanding | | | | and whoever is at the wheel while the balancing takes |
| of the mechanics of sailing - with a large amount of | | | | place. When the hand sees that the steerer is having |
| instinct thrown in. | | | | to apply more rudder to counteract the tendency of |
| A properly balanced boat will handle conditions better | | | | the boat to round up, he or she has to ease off the |
| than one which is fighting with itself. Before I tell you | | | | traveller just the right amount to correct for the extra |
| how to achieve a balanced boat, let me give you an | | | | helm. When they know each other's skills and the |
| example. | | | | boat's reactions, they will reach an average where the |
| Many years ago I delivered a former Admiral's Cup | | | | wheel can be locked and the traveller fixed in position. |
| boat from Perth in Western Australia to Sydney, on | | | | Then, without further interference, the boat will sail |
| the east coast. We'd had a fair adventure because | | | | itself. When an extra puff of breeze tends to increase |
| we'd lost our mast deep in the Southern Ocean and | | | | the weather helm and start to round the boat up, the |
| had to go to the only available port, where we stayed | | | | 'average' rudder applied will bring it back on course |
| a month to install and tune a new mast. | | | | provided the extra gust hasn't been too strong. |
| By the time we arrived in Sydney we knew the | | | | Do not make the mistake of also adjusting the |
| relationship of that mast and the boat intimately. So as | | | | headsail. The only effect of that is to increase the |
| we came down Sydney harbour the crew and I had a | | | | number of variables affecting the course and make it |
| bit of fun. We got the boat so that it would sail a | | | | more difficult for the boat to sail. Trimmers will be |
| reasonably straight line without anybody on the helm | | | | pleased to know that that's why they're needed when |
| and then made it clear to any boats around us by | | | | racing. |
| moving away from the wheel. | | | | Finally, don't think that balancing a boat applies only to |
| We saw some pretty startled faces as the boat | | | | racing. A cruising boat will sail far more efficiently if it is |
| sailed itself steadily down the harbour. | | | | balanced and will be more comfortable, particularly |
| So how do you do this? Firstly you have to have the | | | | when using an autopilot. |
| right conditions - as we did - of a wind steady both in | | | | Balance is also important off the wind but I wouldn't |
| strength and direction. The water surface should be | | | | recommend trying to sail without steering in those |
| almost flat. You can't play this trick in any sort of a | | | | cases. Also don't forget that all the safety rules still |
| seaway. You must have a traveller system which is | | | | apply. |