Was trying out deep thought. Jemma and martins new boat

Seems to me the minute she starts heeling you get far more weather helm than I get in my winder so you ned to sail it absolutely flat, rudder was fully down

Any ideas on causes

Heel - always a bad thing. Flat is the answer!

Obvious variables are centreboard and rake, followed by mast heel position...

GGGGGG

Yes, I think something goes beyond flat is fast with this boat I could only ever get the full potential out of her on a two sail fetch, upon which point of sailing she devastated any other boat.

The rudder may be all the way down, but is it vertical? Mine wasnt!

As I say seems more sensitive than my winder to heel and the mast seems quite forward but will have a look at heel

Thinking as chris says maybe rudder isn't vertical

Thanks chaps

I can't remember Deep Thought being particularly sensitive to weather Helm. Although she did have a lifting rudder, my weapon of choice was a fixed rudder from Milanes. Interested in Ben's comment regarding her speed on the two sail reach-I always felt that she was quickest on a three sail reach. Must have been a question of sailing style...

i'd say it's definately a rudder head/stock issue and that the blade is a mm or two off vertical. The test is does it have enormous lee helm when heeled to windward? Rig balance should only do weather or lee helm, it can't do both at the same time.

Gee you learn new things all the time in yottin

Woof woof

Make sure you keep your tail out of the water!

After using the salcombe ferry last year. It's not for dogs was terrified scary or wot

I purchased Deep Thought from Chris and had her for a number of years. I never found weather helm a problem as I sailed her with the fixed rudder that came with the boat. When I sold the boat to Ben he changed the  rig to a carbon hog stepped mast and somewhere along the line a lifting rudder was added. Probably the problem lies with the rig or the rudder.
Hi Chris and Ben, Sorry I missed you at Cookham, I was in France walking in the Alps. Regards Roy

Does heavy weather make a difference to weather helm? Raced her twice yesterday and trialled once (with lifting rudder)in light winds and there was no weather helm to report? She is a lovely boat.