On Wed, 17 May 2006 21:04:02 -0500, Dave wrote:

On Wed, 17 May 2006 21:20:41 -0400, Wayne.B
said:

does that. I was talking about the more quantifiable ability to
continue steering itself with the helm locked long enough to go down
below and get more clothes, check a chart without getting spray on it,
grab something to eat, or walk up to the bow to tend to something.

I've never seen a sailboat that will do that without some sort of
positive feedback system, i.e., autopilot or windvane.

Gee, my old Islander 24 would do that most of the time in moderate winds. In
fact often it would do it without the helm locked.

A lot of boats balance well enough for this. In fact the best candidates
for vane steering are the boats that almost don't need it.

Matt O.