Sailboat rudder

by Garry
(Gold Coast, Queensalnd)

I have a Hartley 16' trailersailer. It is very responsive in the water. I have noticed that when sailing into the wind there is a lot of pressure on the rudder which is felt in handling the tiller. The tiller asserts a fair amount of pressure on the hands to keep in sailing into the wind. Is there anything that can be done to reducer the pressure in handling? Would pulling the boom down and tighting the sail spread help?