My alignment is off?

[Northoceanbeach]

Quick question. CD 28. Tiller. When the tiller is pointed straight, right down the middle the boat turns slightly, just like a care that the alignment is off. Is this normal?

[Maine_Buzzard]

Under sail or power?

If you're sailing, especially upwind, you will always have a slight pull on the tiller and will likely have the tiller a few inches to windward side. Concentrate on feeling the pressure more than the location of the tiller.

Moving the top of your mast forwards or backwards by adjusting the forestay and backstay lengths will change the amount of pressure on your tiller, move the mast top forwards to lessen the amount of pressure and the lessen the rudder angle, moving it back will encourage the boat to turn into the weather more and increase pressure.

Sail trim also drives pressure, so play with the sheets when you have the inclination.

Under power, I'm usually pretty straight to go straight. I'd not worry avout and inch or so off center. Much more than that, you may want to look at things when out of the water.

[Neil Gordon]

Also, the boat sails whether the sails are up or not.

There are lots of forces on the boat that might cause it not to track perfectly straight (including the force of the spinning prop).

[Northoceanbeach]

It is happening under power. You're right, I wouldn't be able to tell if,it's official under sail because it is always pulling with weather helm or some force.