On Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:41:07 GMT, Steve wrote:

I think it involves
running wing on wing but it's been so long, I really don't remember.

I don't have an autopilot on my boat yet I have it set up so that it
has the proper rake of the mast and with the proper trim of the sails
I can go for miles and miles within a few degrees of my intended
course with the wheel locked unattended.

It doesn't work wing on wing. Wing on wing is a real pain in the ass,
requiring constant attention. Especially when there's waves involved.
Even autopilots don't work well, or at all wing on wing. It also
doesn't work well close hauled. Wing on wing requires attention so
you don't jibe. Close hauled requires attention so you don't stall.

But on a reach or broad reach, works great.

The old time single handed sailors had a self steering solution for
down wind sailing called a double head rig, essentially two jibs
hanked to a single headstay or sometimes to twin headstays, with a
whisker pole for each jib. They'd drop the mainsail completely. The
sheet from each jib was led to the tiller which would stay centered
when each jib was pulling equally, and self correct if the boat
started to head up.