Lee Helm

From the Log . . .

On November 20th at dawn, a start was made for LaPaz. We had decided that the trip should be cut into three almost equal stages. The first stop was to be at a small cove know as Los Frailles; the second at Ensenada de Los Muertos; and the third day we hoped to be make it close into La Paz or close into the vicinity of La Paz. As a matter of fact we did not wish to arrive there on Sunday, which would have been our third day, because the Mexican officials levy an out of hours toll on Sundays, holidays or any time that is not during their working hours. I believe it can be said that their working hours are very short and extend from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

We anticipated a most difficult trip up the Gulf of California. It is notorious fo it’s northerly winds that blow all of the time. Sometimes they blow with marked ferocity. In addition to the wind that blows directly against you and makes a choppy sea, there is a current that is set wouthward by the force of the wind, further impeding your progress.
__________________________________________

Musings in the past tense:

A couple of posts ago, I included a Google terrain map of the tip of the Baja Pennisula. La Paz is Northwest of Cabo, but on the Eastern Side of the Pennisula. So beating up the right coast in the Gulf of California to get to La Paz would have as Kimball would say:

“the character of work”

The next couple of posts should be interesting.
__________________________________________

Musings in the present tense:

In my first sail of 2009, we struggled with a lee helm.

This post was supposed to be an email from my phone, but I hit the wrong button and *poof*.

So I thought I’ll recreate it here, using all my fingers on the keyboard. Chapman, on page 279, describes Lee Helm, and goes on to say:

“many sailboats develop a slight tendency for lee helm in light air”

Oh,

Well that explains it I guess, but what to do about it?

Chapman also has a very nice explanation of the forces on the keel and rudder, and a great figure (8-04), showing why a slight weather helm generates the best lift, vs. drag situation.

But I could not find an explanation of sail trim that would turn a slight Lee Helm into a slight Weather Helm in light winds on one of the many sailboats that develop this tendency. Sail trim books seem to focus on sail trim, not sail and helm trim. I guess that makes a certain sense, but sailing is a balancing act, and the sails are only on one side of that fulcrum.

Too be continued . . . check back later.