Kayaking in Asia

Perhaps the most important aspect of sailing that a skipper or helmsman can learn is how to balance the boat. It’s not something that a beginner can do because it involves a pretty high level of understanding of the mechanics of sailing – with a large amount of instinct thrown in.

A properly balanced boat will handle conditions better than one which is fighting with itself. Before I tell you how to achieve a balanced boat, let me give you an example.

Many years ago I delivered a former Admiral’s Cup boat from Perth in Western Australia to Sydney, on the east coast. We’d had a fair adventure because we’d lost our mast deep in the Southern Ocean and had to go to the only available port, where we stayed a month to install and tune a new mast.

By the time we arrived in Sydney we knew the relationship of that mast and the boat intimately. So as we came down Sydney harbour the crew and I had a bit of fun. We got the boat so that it would sail a reasonably straight line without anybody on the helm and then made it clear to any boats around us by moving away from the wheel.

We saw some pretty startled faces as the boat sailed itself steadily down the harbour.

So how do you do this? Firstly you have to have the right conditions – as we did – of a wind steady both in strength and direction. The water surface should be almost flat. You can’t play this trick in any sort of a seaway. You must have a traveller system which is quick and easy to use.

Given those conditions you will need to have great rapport between the mainsheet hand on the traveller and whoever is at the wheel while the balancing takes place. When the hand sees that the steerer is having to apply more rudder to counteract the tendency of the boat to round up, he or she has to ease off the traveller just the right amount to correct for the extra helm. When they know each other’s skills and the boat’s reactions, they will reach an average where the wheel can be locked and the traveller fixed in position.

Then, without further interference, the boat will sail itself. When an extra puff of breeze tends to increase the weather helm and start to round the boat up, the ‘average’ rudder applied will bring it back on course provided the extra gust hasn’t been too strong.

Do not make the mistake of also adjusting the headsail. The only effect of that is to increase the number of variables affecting the course and make it more difficult for the boat to sail. Trimmers will be pleased to know that that’s why they’re needed when racing.

Finally, don’t think that balancing a boat applies only to racing. A cruising boat will sail far more efficiently if it is balanced and will be more comfortable, particularly when using an autopilot.

Balance is also important off the wind but I wouldn’t recommend trying to sail without steering in those cases. Also don’t forget that all the safety rules still apply.