A method of controlling and regulating a rotorcraft presenting a speed of advance that is high and stabilized, the rotorcraft including at least a main lift rotor (10), at least one variable pitch propulsion propeller (6), and at least one power plant for driving the main rotor(s) (10) and at least one propeller (6), said method consisting in using a first loop for regulating pitch or attitude, and a second loop for regulating speed by means of a control over the mean pitch of the propulsion propeller(s) (6), wherein the method further consists in controlling the deflection angle of a horizontal tailplane (30, 25, 35) by using a third loop for controlling and regulating said deflection angle of the horizontal tailplane (30, 25, 35) in order to minimize the total power consumed by the main rotor (10) and the propulsive propeller(s) (6), for a given speed and attitude.