Automatic pilot module and system for automatically steering a sailboat for sailing in the presence of waves

An automatic pilot system for automatically steering a sailboat, which system comprises:

• a main pilot module (MPP) for generating a main steering signal (SPP) in order to keep the sailboat on a predetermined heading;
• a movement detector device (DM) for detecting movement of the sailboat that is caused by waves, and for generating a signal (SM) indicating said movement;
• a steering correction signal generator module (MC) for generating steering correction signals and comprising an inlet (EM) for said signal (SM) indicating movement of the sailboat that is caused by waves, a processing unit (UE) for generating a steering correction signal (SC) on the basis of said signal (SM) indicating movement of the sailboat, and an outlet (SSC) for said steering correction signal (SC);
• and
• an actuator module (MA) for actuating the rudder (G) of said sailboat on the basis at least of said main steering signal (SPP) and of said steering correction signal (SCP);
• said system being characterized in that said steering correction signal (SC) is determined in a manner such as to cause the course of the sailboat to be corrected towards the direction from which the waves are coming in correspondence with their crests (CI, CII) and away from said direction in correspondence with their troughs (CR).