Thanks for sticking with me, Tod: Sure don't mean to be deliberately obtuse! I knew that what I was visualizing could not be correct, and having seen several different sheet-to-tiller setups, and heard several testimonies now (thanks largely to you) I have faith that the thing works. It does seem counter-intuitive to me, still. But I can't wait to try it out! Thanks again! Steve McClellan Chicago Area 1981 M-15 #152 ----- Original Message ----- From: <htmills@bright.net> To: ">Mboats<" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 7:13 Subject: Re: Fw: M_Boats: Sheet-to-Tiller Steering Steve, That is a toughie to visualize about sheet-to-tiller. After all, firsthand experience shows us that in the extremes the sheet load goes slack heading up to the point of luffing and goes high when the wind is hitting the sail squarely instead of flowing along the sail. However, between those extemes, when the sail is acting like a foil, something different is going on. With "good" air flow, the lift the sail creates is proportional to the angle it hits the wind but proportional to the SQUARE of the speed with which it hits the wind. Heading up changes the apparent wind in both speed and direction. Since change in speed affects the lift more than angle, it is the controlling factor, so the answer is yes, the pull on the sheet does increase when you head up....until the sail luffs. And, conversely, the pull decreases when you bear off...until the air flow across the sail separates and the sail "stalls". Sheet-to-tiller isn't like a helmsman who sometimes tires and has a time lag. It responds as the boat is changing heading and so always stays on top of the game (unless there is a big wind shift or something). Hope this helps, Tod _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats