Matt,

You have some suggestions, but you have left out a wealth of information
that might be of significance.

Is the weather helm always present and just gets bad at 15k?
This will have to be indentified by the king post position as you
probably can not feel the rudder at all (if this is like the other
Benditoes I have sailed on).

If the weather helm is always present and does not respond quickly to
sail trim, it could well be a rig tuning issue.

Was the boat sailed by the owner before you bought it? If it was
stored in a yard with the mast down, there is a very good chance that
the rig was not reset and tuned correctly. Yard people these days are
happy to get a mast to point up, and past that they will make little or
no effort (if they care at all).

Do not go making any expensive changes until you have looked at
everything else. If you have noone you can draw on for experience, go
to a local loft and get them to send some one out for a day sail with
you. He will probably find some work that should be done (I can about
garrantee that), but he will also have to correct any of these issues
before he can even make an complete assesment. You will have to develop
a relationship with some local loft, it migth as well start now.

Fair Wind and Smooth Sea

Matt Colie A.Sloop "Bonne Ide'e"
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Marine and Congenital Sailor

Matt wrote:
I've got a (new to me) 1992 Beneteau First 310
(http://coconut.ereidy.com/) that has some pretty severe weather helm
when the wind blows above about 15 knots. How realistic is it to think
that I can trim her up to the point that I can eliminate it? Is there
an order of preference in going about reducing it? Thanks, -Matt