And the BOC and its successors.
In the early days, those singlehanders all had vanes and what stood for autopilots back then. What they learned was that they didn't need an "autopilot," which back then was basically meant for motoring in flat water. What they needed was power steering, because they wanted something to steer the boat 24/7 in anything the Southern Ocean could throw at it.
Wind sensors at the masthead weren't much help, because the boats motion . . yaw, pitch, and roll . . . was amplified up there and a standard wind sensor read anything but the actual wind direction . . . not to mention the inability to anticipate the next wave coming up from astern.
Isabel Autissier, I believe, had one of the first autopilots (NKE, I believe) that attempted to use a wind sensor and electronic gyros.
Sounds as though now, 23 years after the first Vendee Globe, the fruits are there for Joe Cruiser to enjoy. Thank you Isabel, Mike Plant, Yves Parlier, Alan Gautier, Philippe Jeantot, etc. etc. etc. Who needs the America's Cup?