Traveler & Mainsheet

 

O30_Mainsheets

The Mainsheet and Traveler of the Olson 30 (and any sailboat) is arguably the most important set of sail controls on the boat. The original mainsheet is a 3:1 system with a continuous control line. The original Mainsheet is a 4:1 with fiddle blocks top and bottom. Both of these original systems are adequate but the Mainsheet especially lacks purchase in a breeze, and many modified boats use some form of fine/coarse adjustment to get more purchase, quicker payout or both.

Old School – Standard Traveler, Coarse / Fine Mainsheet

OldSchoolMainsheet

Old School used a Mainsheet with fine and coarse trim. The coarse was interesting in that it was on the forward side of the traveler instead of aft. Fine trim was aft. Coarse is 4:1 and fine is 16:1.

 

OldSchoolMainsheetDET

Detail of Old School mainsheet purchases and attachment at boom

OldSchoolMainsheetDET2

Another view of the Old School mainsheet. Aft yellow line is 16:1 fine tune. Centre line on cockpit edge is traveler, red line in forward cleat is backstay. This system could be reversed so the 4:1 of the mainsheet faces aft.

Stella Ray – 4:1 /16:1 Mainsheet

Stella Ray uses a Harken windward sheeting traveler and a modern mainsheet with fine and coarse. Gross adjustment of the mainsheet is mounted to a pivoting ratchet block, double-sided fine adjustments are independent and easy to trim from the rail due to being cleated on the edge of the cockpit. This system is probably one of the most flexible you could use on an Olson 30.

 

Detail of Stella Ray’s mainsheet and traveler. Traveler is Harken 4:1 windward sheeting style, Mainsheet is Coarse/Fine purchase is 4:1 / 16:1 with double-ended fine. Note that with this type of Mainsheet there are modifications required to the bridge to allow mounting of the center cam base and tackle for the fine tune.

 

Stella Ray in action – February 2015

Nothing like Winter Series sailing in Texas . . . it doesn’t get any better. Congrats to my crew for their commanding performance to win the series. Some highlights aboard “Stella Ray” from this past weekend on Canyon Lake.

Posted by Oliver ‘Buddy’ Byington on Wednesday, February 11, 2015

 

Enigma – 8:1 Mainsheet & updated traveler

JiriTravelerMainsheet

Enigma has been extensively refit for a Singlehanded Transpac, including a complete traveler update. Harken components, 16:1 mainsheet and updated version of the original 3:1 traveler configuration. This type of traveler often splits the two purchases into a fine and coarse but Enigma’s owner felt this was not needed for mostly offshore use. Large block on the swivel mount is a ratcheting type

 

JiriTravelerStarboard

Teak bridge supports replaced with ‘Starboard’

 

JiriTravelerMounted

Traveler track installed

 

JiriTravelerSwivel

Bridge extension for mainsheet swivel block/cam

 

JiriTravelerBoom

Boom block mounts use original mount aft and a dyneema strop for the forward block

 

JiriTravelerBlocks

Center block is for the mainsheet, outer are for the traveler. Light weight carbo blocks with lashing attachments

 

Spar Wars III – 3:1 / 6:1 Mainsheet & carbon traveler bridge

SparWarsMainsheetWide

Spar Wars III mainsheet is a 3:1 / 6:1 system. Two lines and two purchases for fine and coarse adjustment.

SparWarsMainsheetBridge

Detail of Spar Wars III mainsheet and traveler

 

SparWarsCarbonTravelerBridge

Spar Wars III has had extensive modifications to the traveler due to her open transom and new cockpit. Traveler bridge is now a carbon spar. Traveler itself is conventional Scheafer 3:1.