[Rhodes22-list] Define: Lee Helm

[Michael D. Weisner]

Tom,

I believe that you may not have considered all of the features of the R-22. 
You have neglected the affect of centerboard use (or ballast) to correct the 
helm.  As discussed in an alternate thread, the centerboard position changes 
the way the R-22 sails, sometimes dramatically.  As you raise the board, the 
CLR is moved aft.  Conversely, the lee helm may be compensated for by 
increasing board depth.  For a detailed discussion of these topics, please 
see John Ellsworth's article from Sail magazine "Balance Your Helm for 
Speed":
http://johnellsworth.com/writing/nautical/balance_helm/balance.html

Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River, NY

From: <SVTRITON at aol.com> Friday, March 09, 2007 12:29 PM
> hi all
> i dont write very often because i have little to add to the usually
> intelligent discussion.(other than politics) on this list..however i have 
> lee  helm at
> low windspeed and i have a theory as to why so many of us have it...i 
> hope
> that stan will chime in and tell me im wrong...lee helm is caused by the
> center of effort of the sails being in front of the center of lateral 
> resistance
> of the boat....i dont think the boat was designed that way but it has 
> resulted
> because of changes that were made to the boat...when designed my guess is
> there  was no poptop and the boat was meant to sail with the boom in the 
> down
> position..this would result in a larger mainsail which would bring the 
> center of
> effort towards the stern and closer to the center of lateral
> resistance...with  the introduction of the poptop and the resulting higher 
> position of  the
> boom the mainsail has to be made smaller thus moving the center of  effort 
> of
> the sails forward resulting in lee helm...the 175 genny compensates 
> somewhat
> for the smaller main in moving the center of effort aft but if youre  like 
> me
> and use a 150  and a ups you really have to live with lee  helm..luckily 
> as
> windspeed increases the center of effort moves aft so at  the more 
> dangerous
> higher windspeeds you go to neutral helm and then  weather helm...i have 
> tried to
> compensate by adding a 3 inch extension to my  forestay and raking the 
> mast
> back...it helps a little but the lee helm  persists...if stan says im 
> wrong then
> there may be a fix i havent thought  of but if im right its something i 
> have
> to live with
> that's my experience and thought
> tom
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