| Have you ever noticed how weather helm increases | | | | less. And you move the center of effort toward the |
| in gusty winds when beam reaching? It's almost as if a | | | | bow. That means the center of effort circle moves |
| giant hand pushes on the mainsail, making your small | | | | forward, and so does the big hand. Can you steer with |
| cruising boat pivot into the wind. | | | | two fingers? If not, go to the next step. |
| Combine that with some seas off the beam, and | | | | 2. Lower the mainsail |
| steering can become "two-fisted and white-knuckled"! | | | | Some boats sail well under a Genoa or small lapper |
| Use these three secrets to make your boat a joy to | | | | alone. Think of a Lapper like a miniature Genoa, with a |
| steer on the fastest point of sail. | | | | shorter luff and higher clew. Again, think in doubles |
| Move your sailplan center of effort | | | | when you want to reduce weather helm and heeling. |
| The wind concentrates on the bull's-eye center of your | | | | Lower the sailplan (shorter luff) and move it forward |
| sailplan. If you have a copy of your sailplan, pull it out | | | | (lower the mainsail). |
| and look for a circle with a line through it. Now, imagine | | | | 3. Furl roller furling headsails |
| that the "big hand" of the wind pushes against this | | | | If you use roller furling, each wrap will cause the center |
| circle. The harder the wind blows, the more it pushes. | | | | of effort to rise. In extreme weather, you will place |
| On a beam reach, you position your boat beam to the | | | | less strain on your sailing rigging with a separate, inner |
| true wind. That "big hand" now pushes harder to drive | | | | removable stay that you can use for a hank-on |
| the boat sideways and to pivot it into the wind. You | | | | headsail. A small staysail will give you better control |
| won't be able to do much about the big hand, but you | | | | and less heeling on beam reaches in heavy sailing |
| can force it to move its effort. Follow these three | | | | weather. |
| steps in the order shown: | | | | Use these sailing tips to control and reposition your |
| 1. Reef the mainsail | | | | small cruising boat sailplan. This keeps you in command |
| When you lower you mainsail, two things happen--you | | | | and results in less weather helm and fatigue for your |
| lower the center of effort, which means you will heel | | | | sailing crew. |