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Page 8 of 17
broaching, change heading or speed, reduce canvas, or put a competent helmsman at the wheel. Because of the
manual rudder and deadband controls, the CPT performs best when the boat is balanced for consistent steering
needs. If the wheel needs to be turned very little while going down the face of a swell, but then turned wildly at
the bottom or in gusts, the boat is not balanced for the conditions, and the pilot will not anticipate the constantly
changing steering needs.
A. Boat Balance
A balanced boat has very little or no helm, either weather or lee. A boat that is in trim and balanced does not
round up to windward at every gust. A boat with a heavy weather helm is one that has been poorly trimmed or is
carrying a poor selection of sails. The boat should be trimmed for consistent steering needs.
By spending time trimming the boat properly before engaging the CPT, you will place lower current demands on
your boat's electrical system, steer a straighter average course and create less wear-and-tear on both your boat
and your CPT. Practically any boat can be made to sail with a balanced helm for reasonable lengths of time. You
should strive for this as closely as possible before engaging the CPT.
B. Beating
Do not carry too much sail area and do not over-sheet the sails. This will create weather helm, excessive heel and
probably slow you down. If the boat has weather helm, ease the main sheet until the main is on the point of
luffing or just luffing slightly. If the boat still has significant weather helm, take in a reef on the main or slide the
traveler car to weather, while easing the sheet to put some twist in the main to allow the top of the sail to luff. In
heavy weather conditions where one sail will suffice, sail under jib alone.
In gusting conditions some boats, particularly fin keel/spade rudder boats and others with too much canvas
spread, will head up at every gust. The main should be sheeted loosely enough so that it luffs as soon as the boat
heads up. With some boats the main should be left luffing slightly when on course. This will allow the jib to
push the boat off, as drive from the main is lost. Maintain a course that will give the boat an adequate steady
speed and effective rudder control. The goal is to balance the boat, and eliminate the need to change the steering
with every gust, to keep the steering needs consistent.
C. Running
If running downwind with twin poled-out jibs: the jibs should be sheeted a little looser than would be optimum
so that if the boat tries to round up, the leeward sail will spill air and the boat will return to course.
If the main is carried, there should be a poled-out foresail on the opposite side. If conditions put the boat on the
verge of broaching, the main should be dropped, or fall-off and change to a safer course. When it gets to surfing
conditions, a competent helmsman should be in charge. Generally, at slow vessel speeds the rudder is less
efficient and requires a higher rudder-control setting; higher speeds require a lower setting. Get to know your
vessel’s characteristics; there is usually an optimum vessel speed, course through seas, and amount of canvas that
best balances the boat to meet the wind and sea conditions.
D. Reaching
Twin poled-out jibs or a main and a poled-out jib can be used up to 30° to 40° off a dead downwind course.
(See the comments above on running.)
In high winds and particularly in gusting conditions, both sails must be sheeted looser than usual, or sail
area reduced. THE MAIN SHEET MUST BE EASED! If the boat still wants to head up at every gust, put
twist in the main, reef it, or drop it.
Always rig a preventer to the boom when running or reaching in case of an accidental jibe.
