Raytheon Electronics ST6000 Plus, Owner'S Handbook Manual

Page: 21 / 90

Chapter 2: Basic Operation
9
1. To cancel the off course alarm, press
standby
to return to hand
steering.
2. Check whether your vessel is carrying too much sail, or whether
the sails are badly balanced. Significant improvements in course
keeping can usually be obtained by improving sail balance.
Operating hints
Making major course changes
• It is sound seamanship to make major course changes only when
steering manually.
• Manual course changes ensure that obstructions or other vessels can
be cleared properly, and due account taken of the changed wind and
sea conditions on the new heading prior to engaging the autopilot.
Course changes under autopilot control
It is important to understand the effect of sudden trim changes on
steering performance. When a sudden trim change occurs, due, for
example, to weather helm or sail imbalance, there will be a delay before
the automatic trim applies rudder to restore the locked heading. This
correction can take up to one minute.
Large course changes which change the apparent wind direction can
produce large trim changes. In these situations, the autopilot will not
immediately assume the new automatic heading, and will only settle
onto course when the automatic trim has been fully established.
To eliminate this problem, the following procedure can be adopted for
large course changes:
1. Note the required new heading.
2. Select
standby
and steer manually.
3. Bring the vessel onto the new heading.
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