In what conditions or circumstance's do you let the traveler go to
Port or Starboard VS leaving it centered?
Thanks
Port or Starboard VS leaving it centered?
Thanks
Traveler
- Thread starter thaeni
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the traveler, vang, and mainsheet are my 3 main sail controls.
Going upwind, I
-let the vang off
-sheet in the main until the twist is right (all telltales flying, or less sheet if too much heel)
-Play the traveler alone with the lifts/headers/gusts. Only touch the sheet in a really big gust
Downwind
Traveler all the way to leeward
Vang on to keep the boom down and telltales flying
Play the main sheet
(In heavy air, same thing, but the vang is barely / not on)
Going upwind, I
-let the vang off
-sheet in the main until the twist is right (all telltales flying, or less sheet if too much heel)
-Play the traveler alone with the lifts/headers/gusts. Only touch the sheet in a really big gust
Downwind
Traveler all the way to leeward
Vang on to keep the boom down and telltales flying
Play the main sheet
(In heavy air, same thing, but the vang is barely / not on)
the traveler is lowered to port or stbd in puffs when the helm is becoming overpowered and pulled back toward centerline as the puff passes.If you're asking about location when it's parked, frankly it doesn't matter. More important is that it is held stationary to minimize wear and tear on the gooseneck. I use a barber-hauler to oppose the mainsheet and halyard mounted on the end of the boom to keep the boom completely stationary. If your sail cover touches the dodger you may want to move the boom well off center so they don't chafe eachother.
The traveller is moved to windward or leeward depending on conditions. It is moved to windward in low winds and lulls and to leeward in high winds and puffs. Port or starboard would depend on which tack you are.
one more opinion...this varies with diff boat's . as a guide, the traveller is used to move u'r boom and sail to catch optimum wind. It is generally better when u need 2 let some sail out 2 use the traveller rather than main sheet. When u slacken the main sheet, it allows the boom to rise, thus allowing slack 4 main sail to twist. When u move travel car out to catch wind with the main sheet in same position, u get angle of attack u want without allowing boom to rise ( reducing twist in main}.
thaeni...
Use the traveller to put twist into the top of the mainsail. Dropping it to leeward causes the leech at the top of the main to trail off to leeward, reducing wind pressure up at the top of the sail and moving the center of effort lower, allowing the boat to be sailed more upright.
The use of the traveller allows you to keep the trim set by the mainsheet and vang while reducing weather helm in heavier air as pointed out by Alan.
Depending on your traveller controls, it may be easier to play the mainsheet in a puff, but playing the traveller to leeward in a puff is a more effective means of reducing heeling moment and helm pressure.
Keep it centered in moderate air and more to windward in light air--the objective is to align the top batten with the boom's angle and watch the tell-tales at the end of each batten to determine best trim.
Use the traveller to put twist into the top of the mainsail. Dropping it to leeward causes the leech at the top of the main to trail off to leeward, reducing wind pressure up at the top of the sail and moving the center of effort lower, allowing the boat to be sailed more upright.
The use of the traveller allows you to keep the trim set by the mainsheet and vang while reducing weather helm in heavier air as pointed out by Alan.
Depending on your traveller controls, it may be easier to play the mainsheet in a puff, but playing the traveller to leeward in a puff is a more effective means of reducing heeling moment and helm pressure.
Keep it centered in moderate air and more to windward in light air--the objective is to align the top batten with the boom's angle and watch the tell-tales at the end of each batten to determine best trim.
I don't discount anyone's thoughts on this matter and realize we all come from our experiences as to what works etc. So I was wondering if the amount of deadman or rake on the mast might be a factor in how we all play the trav, twist, mainsheet and vang. The H28.5 has the upper mast aft-bowed to begin with and I tend to want a some deadman load on the rudder(probably from my Prindle 18 catamaran days if I should have ever fallen off the boat in the Atlantic of NJ).
So going up-wind, I've always tightened the outhaul, the trav and even positioned it 3-4 inches to windward and sheeted in pretty tight- this gave me the twist to spill wind at the top yet kept me almost on or slightly above the wind. Also 110% Jib cars far back. It does make for some interesting Nantucket sleigh-rides in robust wind when soloing.
So going up-wind, I've always tightened the outhaul, the trav and even positioned it 3-4 inches to windward and sheeted in pretty tight- this gave me the twist to spill wind at the top yet kept me almost on or slightly above the wind. Also 110% Jib cars far back. It does make for some interesting Nantucket sleigh-rides in robust wind when soloing.
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