Using the mainsheet and traveller
Question: From: "Keith Melvin" < keith@ruadh.com >
2000-02-28.
Re. traveller versus sheet
In blustery off land breeze I find myself forgetting the traveller
( the lifting gusts!), and in light airs it gets used in
combination with sheet to keep the top tell tale flying with the
right twist. In between airs it seems the 'power up' on the
traveller alone to get planing needs space all around you-
something you don't have often on a start line! Any
suggestions?
This combination( ie. proper use of controls!) is a bit of a pain
with the open top deck cleats being unsatisfactory if you ask me.
Would we be allowed to use the new spinlock PX type jammer?
www.spinlock.co.uk which would offer the traveller a more secure
and easy to use sheet/jam ? It could be fitted on the tank side or
over on the deck replacing the existing one.
Basically you could have more finesse when using both in
combination, and it is the one thing that I find annoying on the
boat- the cleat for the traveller.
Keith 421
Answer #1: Ian Guanaria, Tasar Class Chief Measurer
As Far as the Spinlock cleats are concerned, I would refer you to
rule 12 which reads "...........fittings and equipment......be
substituted by the builder or owner, with fittings and equipment of
the same or substantially the same size, quality and construction
as those supplied.............."
I would say that the Spinlock PX cleats do not qualify, based on
the above.
I have previously rejected positioning of the traveller cleats on
the angled section of the side decks as this is " not as supplied
by the builder"
Answer #2: Frank Bethwaite, Tasar Designer
May I suggest that you are focusing on equipment when you will sail
better if you focus on technique.
Don't try to use sheet and traveller together. That way lies
confusion.
Use sheet at all times when the sheet tension is comfortable. This
means all offwind sailing and all windward sailing in all light
winds, and all flukey winds, and in all the moderate blustery winds
up to say 10 - 11 knots in which you say you are experiencing
trouble.
You will enjoy much quicker and more certain control if you cleat
your traveller a little to windward and forget about it. Use sheet
fluently, and ask your forward hand to optimise twist each gust and
lull with delicate gust by gust use of vang.
By the time the sheet tension becomes uncomfortable and you cleat
it and switch to traveller control, the leech ribbons will be well
and truly streaming, and the traveller control set-up is about the
fastest to windward in the business. When using traveller control
act as if the traveller cleats were off the boat - control the
traveller by hand, and just never cleat it.
It really does not matter what sort of traveller cleats you use