Hi Gents, - Peter, I think you are right on close-hauled weather helm. It has been awhile since I studied racing theory. Lots of older boats had chains connected to a hole in the upper corner of the rudder as a stop to prevent the rudder from striking the hull. Agree on the practice - good point. We don't do as much as we should - in many areas. Peter, I find your comment about going to "war" on the high seas interesting - I never have thought of sailing as other than being harmonious with the elements. Difficult and uncomfortable, of course, at times, and I have done my share of hollering at the (or into the) wind! Regards, John "Seahorse" >> "I also installed an old sailboaters trick. I have a hole glassed in through the aft end of my rudder that I can pass a line through. I can knot the line on both sides of the hole and pass the line through port and starboard hawse pipes for an additional backup system." >This is a classic reminder of going back to basics that we should all take on board in this age of so called sophistication. > As this subject has drawn so little comment, I am leaning towards the notion that very few of us have had to use their emergency steering when going to "war" on the high seas, let alone practice drills. <snip> > Dennis Connor talks about 7 deg. I think he was talking about weather helm on a well balanced boat up wind close hauled. **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)