10 ST7000 Plus Autopilot Control Unit Owner’s HandbookOff Course AlarmThe off course alarm will sound if the locked autopilot heading and thevessel’s current heading differ for more than 20 seconds, by more thanthe alarm angle set in calibration (the factory default is 20°).D4229-11. To cancel the off course alarm, press standby to return to handsteering.2. Check whether your vessel is carrying too much sail, or whetherthe sails are badly balanced. Significant improvements in coursekeeping can usually be obtained by improving sail balance.Operating HintsMaking Major Course Changes• It is sound seamanship to make major course changes only whensteering manually.• Manual course changes ensure that obstructions or other vessels canbe cleared properly, and due account taken of the changed wind andsea conditions on the new heading prior to engaging the autopilot.Course Changes Under Autopilot ControlIt is important to understand the effect of sudden trim changes onsteering performance. When a sudden trim change occurs, due, forexample, to weather helm or sail imbalance, there will be a delaybefore the automatic trim applies rudder to restore the locked heading.This correction can take up to one minute.Large course changes which change the apparent wind direction canproduce large trim changes. In these situations, the autopilot will not
