Byte heavy helm

Spill, hike, sheet is it not? I sail very safe and fairly flat because of old age and fear. On Wednesday night we had one of those gusts from nowhere which caught me out. Almost an oops moment but as struggled to get the Lightning flat again the helm was awfully. Perhaps that is it with this gentleman? Is he fighting the boat rather than spilling for speed? By the way old rig Bytes have rather crude sail controlls unless they had a race pack fitted.