For the last forty years I have had contact with many cruising yachts. I have designed, built and fitted numerous wind vane steering systems, all of which functioned, but I have never exploited my designs commercially.

Some years ago a friend arrived in a 28 ft monohull ketch and he badly needed wind vane steering.  As the mizzen boom extended aft of the transom, it was virtually impossible to fit any available system.

This prompted me to design and build a wind vane with a remote wind sensor and an auxiliary rudder. Back in the eighties, I built a device to enable an Autohelm 800 to control an Atoms self steering fitted to a 42 ft catamaran. That worked well and used an outboard motor control cable to transmit the movement to the wind vane. Combining these ideas with my experience of previously built systems I have now produced the Jacaré Windhelm self steering system. 

I believe that this is the only significant development of self steering in the last twenty or thirty years. Today there are only about a dozen wind vane options for the cruising yacht. I have managed to overcome most of the inherent disadvantages of all of them.

1. Extreme vulnerability when moored or anchored.
2. The wind sensor is mounted directly above the transom where any obstructions interfere with its operation.
3. All available systems use components that can only be replaced by parts from the original manufacturer.
4. Many rely on the boat’s rudder and steering system  which is continually in use and suffering wear. Hydraulic steering cannot be used with most wind vane systems.

Some thoughts about cruising yachts and their equipment:

1. Some things must never break. Mast, keel and rudder.
2. If it breaks and you cannot mend it yourself you must be able to do without it, at least until the next port.
3. Steering by hand on an ocean crossing should not be required except in very exceptional conditions.
4. The sea and electricity are not good partners.
5. Power at sea should come from the wind, the sun and your muscles, only

Let’s look at item number three, self steering. There are several options and much has already been written by well qualified people.

1. Self Steering for Sailing Craft                    John S. Letcher
2. Wind Vane Self Steering Handbook           Bill Morris
3. Self Steering Under Sail                             Peter Forthmann
4. Sailing With A Windvane                            Alvah Simon 

Jacaré Windhelm and its Advantages:

The Wind Vane and Rudder or Paddle Power units offer a complete non-electrical self-steering system that is easy to install and, as the units are connected only by a control cable, the wind vane can be mounted in any convenient location away from the Rudder or Paddle Power. (Above the solar panels, for example.)

1. The tiller pilot adaptor and rudder units provide electronic course control using the smallest and cheapest autopilot with minimum drain on the boat’s batteries.
2. All components are designed for minimum maintenance and ease of repair if damaged. There are no components that have to be replaced by the manufacturer. All can be manufactured by a local workshop. (If necessary, we can send you engineering drawings of the damaged part or a replacement part.)
3. Suitable for multihulls and monohulls, sail or displacement motor.
4. The boat’s steering system is resting when the Windhelm system is operative. (Except with the Paddle Power unit.)
5. The Jacaré Windhelm rudder unit is a complete back-up steering system.
6. The rudder unit and Paddle Power units can be quickly and easily removed and stored on the boat when not in use. Keep them safe and clean!

Below is a video going through the many advantages to the Jacaré Windhelm system.