AI-2: Lee Helm?

This is mostly idle curiosity...

I keep reading posts about varying degrees of weather helm in people's AI2's.

My own overwhelming experience is lee helm above a certain (high teens - mph) wind speed: *lots* of lee helm.... to the point where sometimes I cannot control the boat without slacking off on the mainsheet quite a bit.

If I just let go of the rudder control, the boat falls off quickly and decisively. Haven't tested it to see if it then drops into a cycle of falling off/gybing/falling off.... but it seems likely.

This puts a new spin on falling off the boat, since it will not head up and cycle into the wind...and will instead merrily sail away downwind..... so wearing a harness/tether becomes more attractive.

All moot and no problem once one learns what the rules of the game are.

But I have to wonder if I'm the only one....

_________________
2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

Maybe play with the dagger position a bit.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

In my experience, when you get to the point of the rudder not taking you where you want to go, the lee ama is bloody near or completely submerged creating a lot of drag. In the AI2 this happens a lot later and at a higher wind speed than in did in the previous model, especially with the tiny dagger board and the small twist and stow rudder. As there is plenty of advice in the various forum subjects, I won't go into detail except to remind you that it is well and truly time to reef. Not only will full control of the helm return, but you may easily pick up speed as you are not trying to drag a fully submerged ama through the water.
Try it and also enjoy a dryer ride. Cheers Ian

IF IT WORKS...MODIFY IT ANYWAY

_________________

Hey Pete,

I've got a 2015 TI and share your lee helm experience. Somewhere around 12 - 15 mph things change when going to weather: the rudder becomes heavy and the boat won't point as high. I'm typically sitting out on a haka at this point, and have played with adjusting the side board but the only real relief that I've found is to take a turn or two (or more) off the (main)sail.

As I understand it, this condition is caused by the center of effort (CE) being in front of the pivot point (Center of Lateral Resistance). Not sure how to readjust those on our boats...

I agree that as wind picks up and you start burying one AMA, or get weatherhelm with these boats (we have a TI). I find I can go faster with the main furled in one turn, if higher winds more turns.

Another thing I know I tend to do is pull the sail too tight, (bad habit) you can tell you have the sail too tight (pinched), is if the far side tell tale is dancing in circles.

Also when it's very gusty I tend to furl the main in a turn or two, I don't go as fast, but I feel safer.

I feel direction and heading is a general term with these boats,(I want to go kinda thataway,(lol)). Meaning I don't continually adjust my sail, I adjust my heading by watching the tells to get to the highest efficiency. Most of the time the wind varies around a bit, and I do slight course corrections, watching the tells to ensure maximum efficiency. You kind of want to sail with rudder close to neutral keeping the boat balanced (the rudder creates a huge amount of drag).
The centerboard also creates a lot of drag, you really don't need a lot of center board on most points of sail, the AI2 now has an adjustable centerboard (A nice feature), A tiny amount of side slip isn't the end of the world, you can sail faster and more balanced if you allow a little sideslip sometimes.
I wear a gps around my neck that I monitor and adjust the boat for max speed, not so much heading, which I use as a general term (thataway).
We live in SWFL and the keys, which are vast and we tend to do a lot of long hauls (50-60 milers) and I tend to hike out and lay on the tramps (away from all the control lines for all of our sails). Sailing with a balanced boat is much less physically demanding, (using my weight to keep the AMA out of the water), that's the downside of having a modded out TI (ours is pretty modded out), they are extremely physically demanding, especially that tiny rudder control on your hand, and constantly uncleating and recleating the control lines, my hands look like hamburger after 6hrs.
FE