American Sailing Association (ASA) 101 Practice Exam

The term that describes the boat's tendency to head up toward the wind on its own is known as weather helm. This phenomenon occurs when the center of effort of the sails is positioned further forward than the center of lateral resistance of the hull. As a result, the boat will consistently attempt to turn into the wind, which requires the helmsman to apply constant pressure to the tiller or wheel to maintain a straight course. This is something sailors need to manage effectively, as too much weather helm can make the boat difficult to control and can cause it to round up uncontrollably.

In contrast, lee helm, which is another term to be familiar with, describes the situation where the boat tends to head away from the wind, requiring the helmsman to counteract this tendency often by steering towards the wind. Neutral helm refers to a balanced state where the boat tracks straight without needing constant steering input, and steady helm describes a maintained direction without any significant tendency either way, which does not relate specifically to the boat's interaction with the wind as weather helm does. Understanding these various terms helps in identifying how a boat will handle under sail and informs decisions during sailing maneuvers.