CANDChelp wrote:

We just assumed that there would always be
gusts.

Why? You've never had steady conditions? What type of gusts does it take to
overpower you into a wrestling match with the helm?

RB

The only steady conditions I've ever sailed in are light light
airs in summer, where one could die from boredom, and rainy days
on Sydney Harbour long ago. The rest of the time is described in
http://www.ace.net.au/schooner/mlakes.htm and can be checked via
the Oz Bureau of Meteorology. The landlocked portions of my
sailing grounds have the sort of funnels, backdrafts and odd
eddies that one expects in landlocked areas with a good oceanic
breeze coming in. I'm sure you must have even worse close in to
high-rise areas.

Wrestling matches with the helm: here are some, although I grant
most are racing in Flying Tadpole II: wind funnelled through
gullies off land to blast across narrow portions of the lower
Murray river. One makes use of these ot pass the less brave, who
let their sheets go in panic (as I did until I got my local
knowledge). 40knot gusts in a 30knot wind. 180 degree wind
shifts with no pause at force 5-6(-7). Backdraft off cliffs in
narrows where the boat _must_ be kept on track.

Again: I don't "wrestle with the helm" on Lady Kate because the
small rudder makes it unproductive: one wrestles with the sheets,
traveller, snotter instead.
--
Flying Tadpole

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