Kongsberg Simrad WP32 - Appendix; Advice on Operation

6 APPENDIX
6.1 Advice on operation
When used correctly, your Wheelpilot can maintain as good a
course, on most points of sail, as a skilled helmsman, with the
advantage that it never gets distracted, whereas a human can
start showing lapses of concentration after as little as 10 mins.
However, there are certain circumstances where a human has
the advantage in being able to anticipate events, which no
autopilot can sense, typically in a heavy following sea. The
following advice should improve efficiency when sailing using
your Wheelpilot:
1. When sailing close to the wind, it is easy to forget to trim
the mainsail, allowing excessive weather helm to build up.
Where a human helmsman would quickly complain, the
autopilot will struggle on and the boat will be sailed less effi-
ciently. Whereas a human normally likes to feel some weather
helm, this is not necessary for the functioning of the
Wheelpilot. Power consumption, wear and drag will be great-
ly reduced if the mainsail is freed or reefed a little sooner than
normal when sailing manually.
2. It is also advisable, when sailing close hauled, to set a
course a few degrees free of that normally sailed under manual
control, to avoid luffing into the wind.
3. When running dead downwind, a human pilot can see
visual signs warning him if the boat is about to gybe, which
the Wheelpilot cannot sense – it is advisable not to sail as close
to the gybe as you may do when sailing manually.
4. When broad reaching or running fast, particularly with
quartering waves, a helmsman will naturally apply periodic
larger angles of helm than when beating or sailing slowly.
This is the equivalent of increasing rudder Gain, and it may be
a good idea to adjust the Gain on the Wheelpilot. Many people
prefer to find a compromise setting which is used for all sail-
ing, but with practice it can be optimised for different condi-
tions, e.g. low for motoring in a calm sea or high for running
fast. If the Gain is set too low, the boat will go off course,
because insufficient rudder is applied in time; if the Gain is too
high, the boat will overcorrect, increasing power consumption.
5. The Wheelpilot is a highly advanced piece of equipment.
However, it would be a mistake to become complacent. As
with all electronic navigational equipment, it is an aid to navi-
gation and should not be used as a substitute for conventional
navigational practice. Remember – Maritime Law requires that
you keep a good look out at all times.
WP32 Wheelpilot
30
E04596