The Art of Gentle Rudder Movements
Why over-steering kills speed
Ask any experienced dinghy sailor what separates smooth, efficient sailors from the zig-zagging masses, and they’ll almost always say the same thing:
“Use less rudder.”
For beginners, this feels counter-intuitive. The tiller is how you steer, so surely moving it more should steer the boat better?
But dinghies aren’t cars. The rudder is not a steering wheel. It’s a brake—albeit a very elegant one. Every time you push the tiller too far, the rudder drags sideways through the water, slowing the boat dramatically and ruining your lovely straight course.
On a narrow, stream-affected river like the Thames, gentle tiller handling is even more important. Let’s explore why.
1. Why the Rudder Acts Like a Brake
When you move the tiller, the rudder changes angle.
At small angles (5–10°), it creates just enough force to turn the boat smoothly.
But…
At large angles (20°+), it stalls.
Water hits the flat face of the rudder and stops the boat dead.
Every sharp tiller movement:
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Slows the boat
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Creates drag
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Wastes precious momentum
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Makes the boat harder to control
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Causes weaving (the famous beginner “S-curve”)
In short: over-steering kills speed.
2. Why Gentle Movements Work Better
A dinghy wants to go straight. The hull naturally tracks forward.
You only need tiny, fingertip-sized corrections to keep it on course.
Try this next time you sail:
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Hold the tiller lightly between thumb and finger.
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Make adjustments only a few millimetres at a time.
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Wait half a second to see how the boat responds.
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Correct slowly, not suddenly.
The boat will feel calmer, smoother and noticeably faster.
3. The Thames Factor: Stream + Over-Steering = Chaos
On the Thames, the stream plays a huge role in how the boat behaves.
If you over-steer in moving water:
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The stern skids
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The bow swings dramatically
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You lose grip
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You drift sideways into tree branches, moored cruisers or—worst of all—a fisherman’s line
Gentle rudder movements help you work with the stream, not against it.
4. Let the Sails Do the Turning
A well-balanced dinghy turns more with the sails and your weight than the rudder.
Try:
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Slight sheet-out to encourage the bow to fall away
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A tiny pump of the sheet to initiate a tack
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Moving your weight to help the boat pivot
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Flattening the boat after the turn to re-accelerate
If you rely only on the rudder, you’ll over-steer.
If you use the whole boat, you’ll glide.
5. The “Straight-Line Test”
A brilliant practice drill:
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Choose a marker upstream (tree, roofline, buoy).
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Sail towards it for 30 seconds.
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Try to keep the tiller completely still except for tiny movements.
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Notice how small adjustments produce big differences.
Most beginners are shocked to find that steady steering requires far less tiller movement than they imagined.
6. Why Experienced Sailors Have Lazy Hands
Watch the helms of the top sailors at your club. Their hands look almost lazy—barely moving.
This isn’t because they’re relaxed (though they usually are).
It’s because:
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Their boat balance is good
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Their sail trim is correct
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Their rudder use is minimal
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They adjust before the boat misbehaves
Their secret: preventing problems is better than correcting them.
7. A Useful Habit: Count Before Correcting
If the boat twitches off course:
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Don’t react instantly
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Count “one-and” in your head
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Then apply a tiny correction
This avoids panicky over-steering and makes your course much straighter.
8. Remember: The Rudder Doesn’t Steer Alone
Boat direction is controlled by:
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Sail trim
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Heel angle
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Weight placement
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Wind strength
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Stream
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Balance
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Then rudder, last of all
If you fix the first six, the seventh becomes nearly unnecessary.
Final Thoughts
Gentle rudder movements are one of the first big “a-ha!” moments for new sailors. The less you move the tiller, the straighter the boat goes, the faster it feels and the more in-control you become.
Next time you’re on the Thames, try steering with lighter hands and smaller corrections. Your boat speed will improve instantly—and your crew will thank you for the smoother ride.
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