Windvane VS AutoPilot
The Contest
Observations
Bottom Line
Test Results (in chart form)
LINK
http://members.shaw.ca/taonui/windvane.html
"On a six-month nonstop circumnavigation, I had plenty of time and
opportunity to compare the performances of the two steering systems. "
"windvane acts like a helmsman and keeps the sails performing at
maximum efficiency by following the wind as it oscillates and/or as
the boat rides up and over the waves. The autopilot tries to force a
fixed course, and the sails are inevitably luffing or overtrimmed
relative to the changing wind."
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