Chapter 3: Advanced Operation 29
3 Advanced Operation
When you AutoTack in Wind Vane mode, the boat turns through the
AutoTack angle. The autopilot will then trim the heading to mirror the
locked wind angle from the previous tack.
Operating hints for Wind Vane mode
• Always trim your sails carefully to minimize the amount of
standing helm.
• Reef the headsail and mainsail a little early rather than too late.
• In Wind Vane mode the pilot will react to long-term wind shifts,
but will not correct for short-term changes such as gusts.
• In gusty and unsteady inshore conditions, it is best to sail a few
degrees further off the wind so that changes in wind direction can
be tolerated.
3.3 Adjusting the rudder gain
Note: Although this feature is available on all systems, you should
not need to adjust the rudder gain setting on Type 150G/400G
autopilot systems after completing the AutoLearn (see page 68).
On Type 150/400 (non-GyroPlus) and Type 100/300 systems, you
can make temporary adjustments to rudder gain to change the
autopilot’s steering characteristics. Rudder gain is a measure of how
much helm the autopilot will apply to correct course errors:
• if rudder gain is adjusted correctly, the course changes should
result in a crisp turn followed by an overshoot of no more than 5°
D5454-1
SECOND
OR
OR
OR
and
1 second
Increase
rudder gain
Decrease
rudder gain