I saw a video describing that setup once. Was apparently mostly used on offshore boats because you could prevent an accidental jibe by tightening the lazy side.
the advantages i see: smaller/cheaper hardware than big boat gear, ease of use/reduced sheeting*, freedom of a traveler track and car that whips across in a gybe (hand hazard), access to the transom without sheets in your face, and it looks helliwicked
*there is basically no need to adjust the main during tacks and gybe's (since the boom is always level/ the boom is never pulled down by the mainsheet) the sheet still "flows" through the blocks without uncleating. only need to occasionally adjust the traveler line (port side's most aft/3rd reeve) when changing from upwind (or down) to a reach. besides that - we really didn't make any adjustments. On a deep/code-0 run we tighten the running back stays and attach "barber haulers" to the boom to further manipulate sailshape
Just saw in your first photo they have both sides of the sheeting system run together through the blocks. The one I saw you had to tighten each side individually to bring the boom down equally centered. I'd assume the boat pictured has a boom vang as well to adjust the sail twist when the main is traveled out.
OK, I get that this gets rid of the traveler and car and understand the advantages of removing it. But, on my boat I use the traveler sheet as quick de-power.
How fast does all that line pull through all those blocks compared to the instant de-power available in releasing the traveler?
Also, how well do you think this would work on a boomless rig with no running backstays?
Having recently completed captain time on two large catamarans that use the "no-traveler" system, I speak from first hand experience. A Robertson & Caine 5800 and a Robertson & Caine 4800. Most of the manufacturers are going to this mainsheet set up on larger boats with fixed mast, as it eliminates traveler tracks, cars, purchase blocks, sheets, etc. Additionally, this set up completely does away with the boom vang blocks and sheet. So you have eliminated a lot. It allows you an infinite position of the boom/sail clew, which is very nice, providing fast and easy precise trim. There are two cleats each for starboard and port. First time I every used it I was in love. It is so much better than the traditional separate traveler track and mainsheet rig. You're not going to see this on a beachcat.
The boat that Andrew referenced has a single continuous mainsheet and a rotating mast. It's a clean and simple set up allowing quick trim on either tack. I'm not sure I agree that the 3rd reeve is a traveler. Hi Andrew!
dunno - sailing in +20 there was no need to quickly pay out
this is a big boat with ama's - you would need to try real hard to capsize - and would need a crane to right it but there is 40'+ of sail area - there is a lot of pressure on it. so to run through 9 sheeves.. i have a 9:1 on my cat - i doubt it's any slower, probably faster with all that sail area
not sure
Hi Philip - the 3rd reeve was what the skipper explained to me - he is a professional rigger so i respect his opinion - but this boat is only 18 months old to him,... he could have it wrong - but it seemed accurate as we sailed it
If it's all one continuous line (which it appears to be), I don't see how it elminates the need for a traveler or a vang. There's no way to "travel out" since it all just pulls to center. If the port and starboard blocks were independent systems, then that would be another story and you could use the windward system as the traveler and the leeward system as the mainsheet/vang.
Only advantages I see to this system are 1) it can pull the boom direcly onto the boat's centerline (with a traditional center sheeting system, the boom will always drop to leeward some degree. 2) it can be installed at the back of the boat so there's more room in the cockpit as compared to mid-boom sheeting and still allows clearance for the tiller.
I could see where his set up would be nice when sheeting from the windward net or near the ama. You're actively sheeting the leeward cleat yet dropping to leeward. You couldn't do that with an independent starboard and port setup.
It is one continuous line
It is the traveler & main .. all wrapped up in 1 system
the mainsheet is controlled by sheeting in at the block on the deck, either side will sheet the main at any time (although not adjusted a fraction as often as on our cats: allowing the skipper to focus on heading)
the traveler moves the boom port / starboard (adjusted by the 3rd (aft) reeve
no vang
As Philip said "It allows you an infinite position of the boom/sail clew"