Below is a photo of my mainsheet block on a swivel base (it looks like the photo is too big so click on it to get the entire view), below that is Mike's set up on BUBBA. The swivel cleat to the right and forward on the centerboard trunk is for the vang lead. My set up is inspired with Mike's help. If you don't already know, Mike is the current DaySailer national champion. He's also a national contender in the Thistle class and was the president of that class a couple of years ago. Just saying, we're getting advice from a very reputable source.
Yes, I changed from mid-boom sheeting to a bridal on the rear deck that attaches 18 inches forward of the end of the boom. With a 2:1 block set up in the back this gives me approximately a 2:1 total mechanical advantage. Your 3:1 center boom gives you 1.5:1 total mechanical advantage. Mike uses a split tail sheet that leads up to a block at the end of the boom and forward to a block directly above the ratchet block, so his would be 1.5:1, as well. The 1.5:1 is faster reacting but a little harder on the hands.
I'm not sure how many other people have followed Mike with the split tail set up. He's been very successful racing, so I wouldn't doubt that other people have copied his set up. Again, in that video you can see that his reaction time is so quick that it doesn't even look gusty. However, they canceled racing at a big regatta because it was too gusty. That is extreme! Everyone else went in. Only the top racers in the class were out there having fun. Though that's just a short video, for me, I find it very instructive.
For me, big air days are for reaching! That's where the fun is. For me, there's no pointing and no close hauled, and definitely no running, and as said before, no jibing. I always want to be able to relieve pressure if need be with the mainsheet. With the boat up on a plane, the apparent wind is pretty far forward so you can sail amazingly deep with the boom pretty far in, so there's still room to relieve pressure. It's the upwind slog that's cold and very wet that is the price one has to pay on these days, so I always do that first. Or, just go out and beam reach for the most part.
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