How is steering downwind different from steering upwind?
It takes more latent ability to steer a boat well on reaches and, especially, on runs. You'll see a greater number of good helmsmen upwind than you will downwind, even though everybody assumes downwind is easy. One big difference between upwind and downwind is that you feel a lot less breeze when you are driving off the wind. For example, if the true wind speed is 14 knots, you might feel 20 knots of apparent wind on a beat, but on a run you may only feel about seven knots apparent. This means that you're sailing in lighter air a majority of the time off the wind, which is why most guys light up their cigarette or eat their sandwich-because it's a relief from the noise an wind of beating.

	Richard Mason/Assa Abloy
	Surfing A Volvo 60 downwind in the Southern Ocean requires finesse and steady nerves.

It's tough to steer downwind well in light to medium air, because unlike upwind, the feel of the wind is less apparent and you don't have a constant angle of heel or pressure on the helm to use as a guide. It almost takes a whole new mental attitude to turn the mark and do your best downwind. For this reason, rounding the weather mark is often a good time to change helmsmen. So put lunch away-eat it upwind. The breeze doesn't stop shifting when you hoist the spinnaker, and as a driver, you need your full attention to continue using as many aids as possible-instruments, masthead fly, telltales, waves, other boats, sails, pressure on the helm, etc.

What's the best position for a helmsman when steering downwind?
The most important thing is to be comfortable while you're steering. With a wheel, it's probably best to stand in the middle of the boat. You usually have to turn the rudder more downwind than upwind, especially in waves, and being in the middle will give you the best leverage possible. But this isn't a fixed rule. With a tiller you can use the hiking stick to steer from the windward side, or you can straddle (or stand next to) the tiller in the middle of the boat. As the breeze comes on, you certainly should be in a position where you have as much 1everage as possible so you won't let the boat broach or wander. This often means sitting on the windward side and holding the tiller with both hands. Brace your feet against something solid, too, or you won't last long on an overpowered reach.

Try to steer from a position where you can see as much of the waves a sails as possible. Since the helmsman is often the person farthest aft in the boat, he or she usually has the best over view of the sailplan and won't get mesmerized by the luff of the spinnaker like the trimmer does. Your position is also important for seeing the instruments. These are a little harder to watch downwind than upwind because the crew, instead of being on the rail, is in the center of the boat and moving all over. It always seems like someone is sitting right in front of the dials.