In commercial sailing, helming[i] the boat from outside went out many hundreds of years ago, yet we still design boats with outside steering stations and wonder why we get sunburned and soaked!   If you look at experienced cruisers, you will find that they will all have constructed some kind of shelter that keeps them out of the direct sun.   There is a range of approaches to this, each with their advantages and disadvantages.   

The simplest of these is a flat piece of cloth that goes over the boom and is supported by two short spars[ii] at the front and back.   They will often have a loop in the centre that you can attach a halyard to so that rain will not collect.  This is a very economical way to get shade and rain protection when at anchor or when motoring or sailing with just the head sail[iii].  

The next level of cover is to get some SS tubing bent to form a collapsible support for a Bimini that will provide sun protection over the helm and perhaps part of the cockpit.   Often there is an extension cloth that will go from the forward side of this to the back of the dodger (if equipped).

Similar to this would be a welded arch that might also incorporate dinghy davits and a large solar panel.

The final step to this would be to add side curtains so that you would have a complete “bug house”.     Carefully planned these will allow you to sail with full sail while keeping you dry, warm and free from direct sun.

[i] Helming is the act of steering the boat. 

[ii] A spar is a generic term for various poles found on a boat.  The mast, boom, spinnaker pole, and others.

[iii] Head Sail,  a generic term for the Jib, genoa, or anything else that flys from the head stay.