Weather Helm

Weather helm is a sailing vessel’s tendency to turn up toward the wind (to windward), requiring the helmsman to hold the tiller or wheel to leeward (toward the weather side) to steer straight. It arises when the sail plan’s center of effort sits aft of the hull’s center of lateral resistance, increasing with heel and gust. A small amount (a few degrees of rudder) is wanted for feel and as a safety trait that rounds the boat up when the helm is released; excessive weather helm drags the rudder and slows the boat. Its opposite is lee helm.