Pilot settings for steering to wind

[matt1]

Having issues with my B&G Nac 2 pilot, which (unusually!) isn't doing a good job of steering to true or apparent wind direction. For example I set it to wind mode and went below to make a cup of tea only to emerge to us being head to wind (having been at about 45deg before). It happned a few times, so much so that I had to give up and had to hand steer

Any thoughts on where to start in terms of the settings I should be looking at?

It holds a compass heading both on and off wind very well

 

[roaringgirl]

Is it being overpowered by weather helm? How much rudder do you have to apply to leeward when hand steering to keep your course? If it's more than 10 degrees, maybe you need to reduce heel or adjust sail balance to give the autopilot a chance?

 

[westernman]

You will probably be better off setting it to steer to apparent wind rather than true. True wind direction will not be accurate immediately anything changes (e.g. boat slows due to wave).

Other than that, check the settings for speed of reaction. Increase the speed of reaction and see if that changes anything.
It might run into difficulties if it takes only a very small correction to head up, but a much bigger one to head back down again.
As suggested above, if that is the case, try to balance the rig better (a reef in the main?).

 

[matt1]

Ah, should have explained. Relatively benign conditions (10-15kn) and the boat is beautifully balanced so not that she is being overpowered. I've determined that the pilot is set in "auto" for wind which means apparent down to 70 deg and then true after that. Seems like there are ton of calibration settings I could tinker with but other than this issue the pilot is faultless so I'm reluctant to start changing things

 

[KompetentKrew]

Does it hold course if you tell it to steer to a point of compass?

My Raymarine seems better that way.