[MHml] Winch vs Tackle

[Claas van der Linde]

Peter Lillywhite writes:
 >The only time we lifted a hull, thanks to a gust off a local hill,
 >dumping the track line had little effect a big ease of the main sheet
 >brought the hull down immediately. The most interesting thing for me
 >was with the hull in the air our cat developed huge lee helm,  this I
 >assume is due to the drag of the leeward hull acting against the CLA,
 >but how do you guys who regularly fly your cats handle this?

There is no, absolutely no difference, in lee helm when flying or not
flying a hull. In general, our boat (RC-27) is totally balanced with
neutral helm and daggerboards up or down does not play much of a role.
In fact, I often drop the tiller to winch in the gennaker and let the
boat lift its hull, it will sail straight (or nearly) straight on. The
only sail that can produce lee helm is the genoa for upwind sailing as
it pushes the CE too far forward when the mainsheet is released.

Cheers, Claas