So what you are trying to say is that the PIDInput might be affected by the sail, even though is in front if it. Thats fine, I understand that. We are not talking about telltales and how they flow with the wind.
Hopefully, I will get the wind vane a fair bit in front of the sail to make it undisturbed. We are talking 1-2m meters in front of a 4 meter boat. On the other hand, as long as the disturbance in somewhat consistent, it should not matter too much for the autopilot. It does not care if the wind vane gives a value of 600 or 700, as long as it can use the rudder to keep that value.
Dont have the boat at hand to try it out yet. Going home to it in a couple of months. Trying to sort out as much things as possible before. Got a wind vane encoder coming the mail next week.