Geoffrey, how old are you sails? Old sails can definitely influence helm. As they age, the draft moves aft and the luff stretches and becomes more full, even when you try to flatten it out with the sail controls. This will result in increased helm.
Do you have any other J/30s in your area? If so, you could check and/or try settings and adjustments? For example you could check how the other boat has its rig tuned (tension and rake). If it was a breezy day, you could do two-boat testing or even try switching sails.
[This message has been edited by jmruzzi (edited 03-23-2004).]
