Traveler Adjustment
Pokey: Thank you for buying my book and chart. Let me explain how some of the terms I used came into being. Most of my material is directed towards beginners to high intermediates. I have conducted “On The Water” seminars where 5 or 6 folks go through every position (driver, jib trimmer, mainsheet timer) on the boat. We start out closehauled and get the boat up to full speed. At that point the boat is stopped and I mess up all the controls. The folks change position and we do it all over again until everyone has experienced closhauled,. Next we go to reaching and eventually to running. The first hour looks like a Chinese fire drill but at the end of the 4th hour, on the closehaul run back to the marina, I’ll stack the set of their sails against anyone in the harbor. I could use the terms leeward and windward for my command, and I used to, but all I’d get would be blank looks. “ Up and down” instruction for the traveler, when the boat is heeled over are obvious. Port and starboard tacks were another problem. I solved that by putting an “S” on the right side of the boom and a “L” on the left side. All the folks in the cockpit had to do was look at the boom and if they saw an “S” they knew they were on starboard tack. Inboard and outboard tracks: Most boats have only one set but serious racers have both. My Catalina30 had outboard tracks, which are fine for reaching or running. For closehauled work you need the inboard tracks. I solved the problem by use of a Barberhauler. Most production boats now have inboard tracks. Why they switched is beyond me. Keep punching your way through the book. There is a lot to digest. The first chapter is the most important. If you do not completely understand draft depth, draft position, twist and angle of attack then sail trim will never make any sense. If you have any questions about any of the material just email at yankee3223@juno.com or call me at (520) 818-2891. I’ll do my best to answer your questions. Many years ago, my wife and I got back into sailing. Actually, I was sick of my children bringing back our power boat in pieces!! They hate sail boats. They are too slow for them and that is just fine with me. Anyway, the sailboat we bought was a MacGregor22. I later sold that boat for a Catalina25 and then sold that for a Catalina30. The Mac22 was a fun boat.
