Steering Archives

Tag Archive for: Steering

Maneuvering a Catamaran

May 18, 2023/by Grant Headifen

How to maneuver a catamaran in a marina with rudders forward and aft of the propellers, including animations on how the Catamaran responds.

Preventing the Frustrating Auto-Tack

October 3, 2015/by Grant Headifen

If you like this freebie tip, LIKE us over there —-> thx for that! First – what is an auto-tack? It’s when you are sailing along on a close haul about 30 or so degrees off the wind minding your own business when either the wind changes OR you weren’t watching the boat turning up into […]

Head Up or Bear Away?

May 24, 2015/by Grant Headifen

<img height=”1″ width=”1″ alt=”” style=”display:none” src=”https://www.facebook.com/tr?ev=6024765766067&amp;cd[value]=0.01&amp;cd[currency]=USD&amp;noscript=1″ />If you like what we have done here, please LIKE it on facebook – thanks it really helps us grow. While you are at it please follow/LIKE our facebook page over there ——> we post fun cool stuff. Here are some great examples of how you can read the […]

How to Steer a Sailboat

August 28, 2014/by Grant Headifen

Sailing the helm of a sailboat should come naturally to you, just like riding a bike. Let’s go over steering.

Autopilot sailing to a waypoint

December 10, 2012/by Grant Headifen

Last weekend the NauticEd crew did a boat delivery for the local Moorings Yacht Charter company in New Zealand. We sailed from Auckland up to the Bay of Islands to deliver the yacht back to its charter base. The yacht was a Beneteau 37 2012 model and was appointed well and in great condition. The […]

Slow Tack or Fast Tack – That is the question

June 29, 2010/by Grant Headifen

I once sailed with an ex-submarine captain who would turn the boat through a tack extremely slowly. When asked why, he had several good reasons. (1) Look behind you as you come about. If you are leaving swirling water eddies behind the rudder, these are a sum of kinetic energy that was previously in your […]

Weather Helm Vs Lee Helm – What is it? How to use it?

June 16, 2010/by Grant Headifen

Most of us sort of understand the concept of weather and lee helm, but few explanations go into how it gives your boat a sailing advantage.

Weather Helm Versus Lee Helm

March 15, 2009/by Grant Headifen

What are they and what’s the difference? These two terms were established when vessels were fitted with tillers rather than wheels and so the term weather helm refers to having to pull the tiller (helm) “to weather” in order to sail in a straight line. Lee helm is when you need to push the tiller […]

Learning to hold a straight course

February 6, 2009/by Grant Headifen

One issue that appears most often with new sailors learning to sail is focusing too much attention on the electronic wind meter or the wind direction indicator (the pointy arrow thing at the top of the mast). The windmeter above which is installed on most modern sailboats shows that the wind is coming from 60 […]