"RichH" wrote in message
...
With a lot of CE forward, it seems to make sense that one would have lee
helm.
This in and of itself seems unbalanced to me. I'd much rather have a bit
of
weather helm vs. lee helm.

On most 'true' cutters (not double headed sloops where the mast is
further forward) the combined CE is properly located above the
CLR ..... But then again the CE is a static (necessary) concept and
can be **dynamically** changed by how one 'shapes' the sails (sum or
all vectors). All depends on the design and how it performs when
heeled etc.


Errr... shouldn't CE always be located equal to the CLR via sail trim? (I
mean unless you're doing something else intentionally?)

Even with a non-true cutter, you would want to balance CE/CLR as best as
possible. Seems like you'd have more options to do that either with a true
or non-true cutter and perhaps a ketch/yawl. I know the downsides of
ketch/yawl (extra mast weight, for example), but what are the downsides of
cutters? I know someone who is intent on getting a (true, I suppose) cutter.
Not sure where she's going to take her (offshore vs. inshore vs. both).

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com