If you are sailing with rudders down and you let go of the tiller (the helm) and the boat doesn't round up, then you have a normal/neutral helm.

If it does round up however, then you have weather helm. This can only be decreased by "constructural" changes, like moving the sail more forward, enlarge the front sail, moving the centreboard backwards, etc.

You can ofcourse also contra-steer with your rudder and that's the situation where the "tug" comes into play. You will literally feel it in your arms. (And as explained in the previous post, you can seek help for decreasing this tug by increasing your rudder leverage.)

So weather helm induces tiller tug.


Nevertheless you can have a well trimmed cat which has almost a neutral helm with just a slight touch of weatherhelm for the safety. And still be confrontated with severe tiller tug.
For instance when you start in shallow water with your rudders up in the water.
Because the cat is also slightly drifting away to leeward, it will press the rudderblades (pivotting) to windward if you let go of the tiller.
Trying to correct this, you can feel, depending on the cat and the circumstances a tremendous tug. Even when just trying to hold the tillers straight. Remember: there is no weatherhelm involved now!!!!!!, because the cat has neutral helm.

That's exactly what I feel, starting on my beach!