| Subject: Re: First season with a 500 |
Author:
Brian Henry
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Date Posted: 24/10/03 8:56:43
In reply to:
john.templar
's message, "Re: First season with a 500" on 24/10/03 0:45:23
>Ive just looked at your pic and im damned if I can see how that would work.
Once she gets into the groove she'll stay there, but it needs some fine tuning to get it right. I found this Swedish tiller clamp (in landlocked Switzerland, strangely) and it's perfect - screwed to the top side of the tiller where the curve steepens from the rudder post, the line runs from two jam cleats on either side of the cockpit well and through the clamp. This is a very solid piece of ss with a swinging arm that, by flipping forward, clamps on the line.
I set the course with optimal sail settings, hold it for a few moments with minimal tiller movement, then flip the clamp; the sail balancing does the rest - she bears up, less pressure on the main, aft of the centre of lateral resistance, and she falls back. Too far and the reverse happens - I guess a little residual weather helm is needed for the principle to work, okay, I have that. It usually needs a couple of tries to get it right but it really works, although I've only used it with the wind forward of the beam.
You amaze me though, when you say that you can use an Autohelm 1000 under sail. I have a rather older model, before the one with digital display - do you think they improved the correction algorithms? Because mine is just a nerve-racking experience with its too little too late corrections, with the resultant beep, beep off-course alarm always going. It's always possible I've got the distance of the pivot from the tiller wrong but it was according to the installation instructions and it works perfectly under power.
Sorry, you're right about Staithes, I was confusing with Runswick Bay a few miles south and a bit similar (I wondered why you were going on about drying out). I put the typing fingers into gear before engaging brain.
Fair Winds and regards,
Brian.
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