How to rig for Downwind self steering скачать в хорошем качестве

How to rig for Downwind self steering

Whilst cruising on Radioactivity Cameron and I rigged up for downwind self steering. The upwind sheet-tiller steering that I showed you before only works properly from a close reach to a close haul.    • Sheet to Tiller Steering whilst single han...   For sailing downwind most boats are naturally unstable, requiring considerable attention from the helmsman to prevent the boat from rounding up into the wind. It is hard work and it would take an exceptional electric autopilot to cope - neither the one I built nor the commercial unit can work reliably in these conditions. To make a boat self-steer downwind a lot of negative feedback has to be induced into the rudder by the self steering mechanism. One way to achieve this is demonstrated here. With upwind sheet-tiller steering the negative feedback is induced by the mainsheet. With downwind self steering the negative feedback is induced by the jib sheet. As the boat moves downwind, the jib will become sheltered by the mainsail, and the jib sheet will go slack. The bungies on the rudder will then pull the boat slightly upwind. As the boat turns upwind, the jib will move out of the mainsails shadow and power up. This increases the tension on the jib sheet, which pulls the tiller away from the bungies, bringing the boat downwind. Depending on wind speed, sea state and other factors a very good course will be steered. This system works from a broad reach to dead downwind but we could not get it to work on a beam reach - thats our next target. Using this method we sailed for well over 40NM at speeds of between 4 and 7 knots, with wind speeds between 10 and 25 knots. If you have any questions or comments please write them below.