It sounds like you may have answered your own question

Posted By: Ray Henry, Nimble Kodiak Yawl, "Seaweed", NC
Date: 5/3/07 7:15p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Weather helm (Michael)

The fact that your rudder center of effort was not where it should be (when all the way down) could have significantly contributed to the "weather helm". I would not think about trimming for weather helm until the rudder was in its correct position. Addressing that is something I don't know about as I don't have a kick up rudder. Sorry.