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TopTip2020 #79
Body and Sheet Steering Practice
by Kazuyoshi Nakao, JPN
Boat balance and sail trim effects the amount of rudder that you use, both when sailing staight and turning. It also therefore effects the amount of rudder that you do not need to use!
This 'hands free' excercise is great for developing the appreciation of a light tiller, learning exactly what heel neutral steering is on a run so you are not accidentally braking with the rudder.
In all conditions there is value in learning to help the boat to initiate turns with body movement and sail trim whilst the rudder then follows the turn, rather than the rudder leading the turns.
You can use some bungee to centralise the tiller. Adjust the tension of the bungee so that it is a good training aid and then vary the tension as your skills progress.
Could be a challenge in waves though, maybe wait until summer to practice that!
Check out Kazuyoshi Nakao' s video practicing this training technique in Japan;
https://www.facebook.com/100001214617213/videos/3994299990620449/Reply 16/12/2020 12:03:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 5135