"Gary" wrote I think the first job is to get
the boat level. That is normally the
cause.

Maybe in a dinghy where you can shift the weight. In a keelboat, heel
is directly proportional to power going to windward. No heel, no
drive. At some point, the side effects of heel begin to slow the boat
down. Finding the optimum angle, not just keeping the boat as flat as
possible is the objective.

Lot's of pressure on the helm is not necessarily bad as far as boat
speed is concerned. That pressure is directly against leeway.
Perfect helm balance might be nice for helmsman but may not produce
the fastest boat to windward.

I find lee helm in light air a real pain but it's usually the price of
a very light helm when it breezes up.

--
Roger Long