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Weather helm

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dart1909
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Weather helm

Post by dart1909 »

Having recently come back to the Sprint i have noticed whilst sailing i seem to have quit a lot of weather helm .rig is on 3 rd hole up from the bottom .Is this normal .feels like i am always fighting or pulling at the rudders which cant be fast. Have tried one hole up which improves it a bit .what are the thoughts on this please
Malcolm .
Brian Phipps
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Re: Weather helm

Post by Brian Phipps »

Windsport technical support .
I think you should first double check your rudder system, and rudder blades are in good order, no slackness or ability for the blade to move back when in the lock down position.
Brian
Windsport SP15 technical support.
dart1909
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Re: Weather helm

Post by dart1909 »

Yes Rudders are good all tight .and checked alighnment .all seem okay .
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Bob Carter
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Re: Weather helm

Post by Bob Carter »

So why not crank the mast further forward? 3rd hole from the top is more normal but of course that depends on the length of the shrouds which can vary quite a bit. I reckon with the sail hoisted and the bows pointed into the wind on land you should not be able to go block-to-block on the main sheet no matter how hard you sheet-in on the main sheet. If you can crank the mast forward until you cannot.
Cheers
Bob

PS Do you own boat 1909? If so, are you selling it or have you recently bought it? The reason I ask is I see it is for sale on our website so if you recently bought it you may need to contact Liam, our web master, to take it off the list. :wink:
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Liam
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Re: Weather helm

Post by Liam »

These measurements may be of use.

http://www.shanklinsailingclub.com/cont ... ements.php

A hypotenuse of about 22 and a half feet with forestay movement a little over a foot seems to be about right.
2034 - No Quarter, 1957 - Dreadnought, 1709 - Biscuit
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dart1909
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Re: Weather helm

Post by dart1909 »

Used to own 1909 .sold it ages ago .just never changed my profile name. TA
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Bob Carter
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Re: Weather helm

Post by Bob Carter »

dart1909 wrote:Used to own 1909 .sold it ages ago .just never changed my profile name. TA
OK. Understood.
Cheers
Bob

PS. You Yorkshire guys are hard to keep up with. Do you know Robin Boardman by any chance? :wink:
dart1909
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Re: Weather helm

Post by dart1909 »

I no the name but never met him .
Thanks for the advice .
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Bob Carter
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Re: Weather helm

Post by Bob Carter »

Bob Carter wrote:[You Yorkshire guys are hard to keep up with. Do you know Robin Boardman by any chance? :wink:
Talk of the devil - Robin has just sold 1988 :roll:
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Robert
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Re: Weather helm

Post by Robert »

Easiest way to counter weather helm is to sail the boat as flat as you can (may need some sail control adjustment) and/or simply move your weight back a bit.
Robert England
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