Mainsheets and travelers

[Sailor Sue]

Pretty slow on this site right now so here's a question for P-23, P-21, and maybe others. How do you de-power the main in big gusts of wind with the mainsheet attached to the backstay behind you, and no traveler?  Seems like it would be rather awkward and inconvenient reaching behind all the time.

Just curious how others deal with gusty conditions, and if you've made improvements for higher wind conditions?

The first improvement I made to our 23 was modifying our backstay to make it 6:1 adjustable, and adding a 3:1 traveler at the front of the cockpit.  I'm guessing I have to dump the main at some point about 60% of the days when winter sailing on Charlotte Harbor.

[Brian N.]

Never sailed a P-21 or P23 but on the Ensign we used the main to dump a gust and the traveler for trim. Same on the Sonar. I know they are very different than the Precision boats, but I would think that using the traveler would just not be fast or efficient. Of course, on the little P165 a combination of main and heading up does the trick.

[Riggerdood]

My RS22 has end boom sheeting, but I never feel like I'm reaching back to dump the main, because the main sheet is always in hand or at least draped over my knee, and I have the cleat angle set such that a quick tug pops the sheet out of the cleat.

[tjspiel]

My RS22 has end boom sheeting, but I never feel like I'm reaching back to dump the main, because the main sheet is always in hand or at least draped over my knee, and I have the cleat angle set such that a quick tug pops the sheet out of the cleat.

I grew up sailing boats with mid-boom sheeting and boats with end boom sheeting have always felt a little awkward to me but I live with it.

Anyway I do the same, sheet generally stays in my hand, awkward or not.

[Riggerdood]

Same here Tom: my O'Day Daysailer had mid-boom sheeting as well, but many owners, especially the racers, converted to some form of Crosby or similar traveler. Most of those still had the mainsheet cleat on the top of the CB trunk though.

I remember one of the longest running "debates" on the DS forum was about the mainsheet cam cleat, and whether "up to release" or "down to release" was better. The original standup fiddle block/cam cleat had up to release, while the Garhauer replacement that I and a few others installed had down to release. Most of us that changed it actually preferred down, but we were definitely in the minority.

[JGrahamK]

I don't understand the "reaching behind" comment. In a P-23, I'm typically seated on the high side bench seat and have the tiller in one hand and the mainsheet is right above the tiller and in front of me.  When it's gusty, I hold the cleated mainsheet in my other hand and yank it free and ease the main if blasted by a surprise gust.  It happens frequently on the lakes in Colorado when afternoon thunderstorms roll off the mountains.

[tjspiel]

You cannot view this attachment.

"Behind" maybe isn't the right way describe it unless facing forward (which is maybe the case sometimes).

"Back" probably makes more sense.

The mainsheet is towards the aft of the boat and for me, who grew up with mid-boom sheeting, that's a strange arrangement because I want the tiller in my aft hand and the sheet in my forward hand.

And if I'm positioned forward of the tiller, which I am a lot of the time, now I'm reaching back for both of them.

btw: Thanks for giving me an excuse to dig up this picture. Gets me excited for the upcoming season and reminds me that I have to tighten my lifelines.

[Riggerdood]

I'll occasionally sit facing forward with my stadium chair for back support, but that's usually only when I'm on a long tack in steady air, such as when we sail out to the Channel Islands. I'll typically have the autotiller engaged, but still have the mainsheet in hand, and a quick forward tug will release it.

Nice pic!

[talbot]

I found it awkward at first, and when I replaced the backstay I was planning to add a traveller forward. But then I realized that one distinctive characteristic of these boat is the clear cockpit. If you move the main swivel forward it's in the way. So I used a soft traveller across the stern and learned to  steer with my aft hand while keeping the main sheet in my lap.