Mid Boom versus aft traveler

Moderator: GreenLake

Mid Boom versus aft traveler

Postby rnlivingston » Wed Sep 11, 2013 8:37 am

I have a fully raced equipped 1973 DS1 that I race at a local sailing club. I do extremely well against similarly equipped boats...both upwind and downwind. The boat came with mid boom sheeting with double ratcheting blocks which works very well. But the NACs come to New England next year and I want to participate. I'm thinking of installing a traveler and change the main sheet system. The question is what will I gain ?
Roger Livingston
DS 6872
Mariner 4096
rnlivingston
 
Posts: 216
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:38 am
Location: Worcester, MA

Re: Mid Boom versus aft traveler

Postby GreenLake » Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:51 pm

My gut level feeling is that I would not expect a change like this to be a "breakthrough" for you, that would catapult you from the back of the fleet in the NACs to the front.

You are practiced with the old system system, and that frees you up to focus on tactics and strategy. If this was the start of the season, I would have suggested that you rig something up and see whether it helps you decisively against the other boats, and if it does to practice with it.

My reaction is based on my experience in mixed fleet racing, with no compensation. I've seen how well people can do in "lesser" boats, if they are the better sailors, and/or have superior local knowledge...
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
GreenLake
 
Posts: 7135
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:54 am

Re: Mid Boom versus aft traveler

Postby K.C. Walker » Wed Sep 11, 2013 6:47 pm

Roger,

It must be that those Can-Am boats are just faster! When Geoff owned your #6872 previously we speculated that his/yours must be one of the first Can-Am boats and mine must be one of the last. I wonder if your #7000 was made side-by-side with my #7002?

I might be wrong, but I think that no one has won NACs with a traveler in quite a while. The most successful sailors are using either a stern deck bridle or a Snipe style split tail main sheet. Mike Gillum won the last three years using the split tail main sheet and double ratchet blocks. Dave Keran has been using the stern deck bridle, and Phil Root used that system as well. They also are using a 20:1 boomvang. It seems that this combination has provided the best sail control.
Last edited by K.C. Walker on Thu Sep 12, 2013 8:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
KC Walker, DS 1 #7002
K.C. Walker
 
Posts: 1335
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:50 pm
Location: North Stonington, Connecticut

Re: Mid Boom versus aft traveler

Postby Mike Gillum » Thu Sep 12, 2013 12:34 am

Since the turn of the century Mike McCaffrey, Bob Blake, Jr & Ted Dickson have won DS NACR's with mid-boom travelers in 2006, 2009 & 2010, the adjustable McLaughlin bridle system 2:1 mainsheet has won most of the other years and since 2011 its been the 1:1 Snipe split-tail bridle mainsheet system.
The 1:1 Snipe split-tail bridle mainsheet was an oddity shortly after I replaced the mid-boom traveler on #2772 BUBBA but over the past couple of years more and more Northern California DS switch over to the dark side!
As far as I'm concerned the Snipe split-tail bridle mainsheet has zero drawbacks while the mid-boom traveler has many in my opinion;
1. The 1:1 Snipe split-tail bridle mainsheet has less mainsheet to adjust which means less mainsheet in the bilge and weight overall.
2. The 1:1 Snipe split-tail bridle mainsheet allows for quicker sheeting and easing of the mainsheet both of which are highly critical!
3. The 1:1 Snipe split-tail bridle mainsheet self-centers the boom without having to adjust the traveler after every tack.
4. The 1:1 Snipe split-tail bridle mainsheet system weighs several pounds less than the all of the components in the mid-boom traveler system and requires no fasteners be installed in the side tanks to mount it.
5. The mainsheet base is always attached to the centerboard trunk in one location making it easily and quicker to find if you drop the mainsheet or misplace it!
6. The 1:1 Snipe split-tail bridle mainsheet system doesn't have a traveler cross the boat impeding the fore/aft movement of the skipper and crew.
Rigging is a personal choice and what may work for one person may not work for another!
FYI Dieball Sailing's annual Fall Discount started September 1st and the sails that have won the past three DS NACR's and just about every west coast regatta the past six seasons are now on sale!
Mike Gillum
 
Posts: 163
Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:28 pm
Location: Loomis, California

Re: Mid Boom versus aft traveler

Postby Salty Dog » Sun Oct 27, 2013 1:02 pm

Where can I see a pic. or diagram of a snipe split tail bridle? I sure there are many I just want to make sure I'm looking at the right thing.
SD
Salty Dog
 
Posts: 173
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:38 pm
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas

Re: Mid Boom versus aft traveler

Postby Alan » Mon Oct 28, 2013 12:40 pm

http://www.ukmirrorsailing.com/index.ph ... 65:rigging

Here's a picture of one, although from other stuff I've read the bridle is shorter than ideal. If you search "split bridle mainsheet" you can spend a couple of entertaining hours reading up on the subject. :)
Alan
 
Posts: 756
Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:39 pm

Re: Mid Boom versus aft traveler

Postby Salty Dog » Tue Oct 29, 2013 9:40 pm

Thanks. I get it now.

SD
Salty Dog
 
Posts: 173
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:38 pm
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas

Re: Mid Boom versus aft traveler

Postby Alan » Wed Nov 13, 2013 4:01 pm

Does anyone have length measurements for a split-tail bridle mainsheet? I can figure out the lengths of the split tails easily enough, but how long should the thick part of the sheet be to allow it to pay out when the boom swings outward?
Alan
 
Posts: 756
Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:39 pm

Re: Mid Boom versus aft traveler

Postby Salty Dog » Wed Nov 13, 2013 9:25 pm

I was thinking about putting some on my boat. It seems to me the tricky part would be getting the split tails the right lenght as to be able to bring the boom to the centerline of the boat before the leward splitail became tight.

SD
Salty Dog
 
Posts: 173
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:38 pm
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas


Return to Racing/Performance

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests