Neutral helm and the hydrodynamic advantage of the Zen 24
Weather helm is the term used to describe a sailboat’s tendency to head up into the weather side when the tiller is a mid-ship. Too much weather helm makes the boat difficult to handle and reduces speed. Most sailboat hull forms have not been considered in reducing the weather helm when the boat is heeled over by the wind.
However, the hull of the Zen 24 has been especially designed so that weather helm is reduced and neutral helm is maintained when the boat is heeling.
The hydrodynamic advantage of the Zen 24 hull form comes from the interaction between the centers of effort and lateral resistance, as the diagrams below show. Because of the unique shape of the hull, the Zen 24 is able to maintain a balanced and neutral helm, even when heeled by the wind. This makes the Zen 24 a very stable and comfortable sailing boat.
[…] Weather helm and the hydrodynamic advantage of the Zen 24 » […]
I’d point out that a slight bit of weather helm is usually a good thing. It means that the boat will point head to wind if the helmsman falls overboard or is otherwise incapacitated. Lee helm is a bad thing almost always…but a slight bit of weather helm is a good thing.
That’s a very good question. You can adjust Zen 24’s helm a slight bit of weather helm by after raking the mast to 4% instead of current 3% if you like.
What I say the neutral helm means always helm a neutral if the boat is heeled position or not. And so the definition of neutral helm includes a slight bit of weather helm and lee helm.
I would say strong weather helm and lee helm are the bad thing almost always.
I have heard the same thing that the boat will point head to wind if the helmsman falls overboard. But could this be a reason about the sailing performance?
You are very welcome to test the Zen sailing if you have time after the Strictly Sail Show.