Windpilot PACIFIC LIGHT, Manual

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WELCOME …
… to the world of silent self-steering!
Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by your new windvane steering system: life aboard will never be
the same again!
Learn to trust your new live-aboard guest. Enjoy the moment you realise it can steer with the kind
of stamina and prolonged precision we can only dream of. Hand over to your tireless new mate
and make the most of all the time it leaves you for other things. Life aboard will become much
more relaxed; time at sea will be generally more restful. And those long trips that were once all but
inconceivable are now very much within your grasp.
We at WINDPILOT are almost as single-minded as our windvane gears. We have been continuously
developing and refining our systems for more than 40 years now - and all that experience comes free
with every system sold. You will notice the difference: we have left no stone unturned!
KISS (keep it simple, stupid) - that’s the motto we live by at WINDPILOT. We realise that manuals are
probably well down your list of reading priorities, but there are mistakes to be made and they can be
avoided. Good advice is particularly valuable at sea, especially if you have it there on board with you,
so take a deep breath and read on…
You expect good steering from your WINDPILOT and it, in turn, has certain expectations of you
:
... DON’T NEGLECT YOUR SAIL TRIM
Poor trim amplifies weather helm, which means more pressure on the rudder and less boat speed.
Don’t sail with the handbrake on! A well trimmed boat heels less and requires less pressure on the
rudder. That means it sails faster. Adjust the mast, trim the sails: try it, you have plenty of time!
... BE AWARE OF THE CONDITIONS
Some combinations of wind and sea conditions will be too much for your windvane gear: imagine
trying to steer around breaking waves with your eyes closed, for example.
... MAKE SURE YOUR WINDPILOT IS PROPERLY INSTALLED
Install it with care, treat it well and be prepared to give it a little attention now and again.
... TALK TO US, PREFERABLY RIGHT FROM THE START
If you would like confirmation that your system is properly installed and that the steering lines and so
on are just right, send us a few photos of your WINDPILOT set up and ready for action. Pictures tell it
like it is and make it easier for us to help you.
You have our word on it - lazy days at sea await… at least as far as steering is concerned…
Peter Förthmann