weather helm

I was sailing my RS800 yesterday. It was force 4 and gusty. We have had problems with weather helm on and off. I expect some of it was to do with technique as we have not been sailing it perfectly flat due to the very gusty/windy conditions where we sail at this time of the year and desire to avoid windward capsize. In addition I have had to readjust the rig to ensure it is at class reccomendations.

Yesterday the first race the boat was perfectly balanced and responsive. Despite not being perfectly flat the rudder was still manageable and light.

In the second race there was a large amount of weather helm. The conditions and boat settings were the same. We checked the rudder and it was fully down. My biceps were tired from the constant pull unless the boat was perfectly flat/almost coming over on top of me. It felt like a boat with the rudder halfway up... Of notice was that the weather helm was much worse on starboard tack.

Back onshore

- the mast was central. The settings were correct (in fact mast ever so slightly underraked). The jib slot was open.

- The rudder appeared to have a small stress fracture where it leaves the stock but I could not detect any bend at all.

Any suggestions. At times we were sailing as if overpowered a bit. Could it be the main was simply too powered up compared with the jib ? However if I need to depower it I need more rake and that will surely give even more weather helm.

Any suggestions ?

Mike

I'm sure it was 1 of 2 things. 

1. you weren't sailing the boat as flat as you were in the morning. 

2. the rudder was not quite right down.  You'd be surprised how even the smallest change of angle here makes a huge difference.  When I first had my Laser 4000 I experimented and found the thickness of a double layer of PVC tape on the abutment of the rudder made a huge difference to the feel of the helm.  The abutment is the part of the blade which stops the blade from going down any further.  Having discovered this I always make the rudder come down hard enough to make an audible clunk - if it doesn't I put it back up and have another go - its the only way to get a consistent feel to the helm.  Alternatively it is just possible the hole that the bolt goes through is oversize.