Mainsheet management

[Gordonmc]

What are the pros and cons of a three-point horse arrangement for the mainsheet. Sorry if there is a more elegant way of describing it... I have only seen it on a couple of boats whose owners have not been around to quiz.
Consists of a double block on the boom, one on the horse plus blocks either side of the horse. Each end of the sheet is cleated off either side.
I worked out that to tack the leeward end of the sheet would be uncleated and allowed to run through the blocks then locked when the sail was set correctly. The slack on what is now the windward side would then have the slack taken up.
Is this about right and would this work on my Hilliard (Bermudan) to give better control of the boom. Presently I have a three-to-one advantage mainsheet attached to the horse, which gives no real lateral control.

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[Mirelle]

I have such an arrangement. The reason for it is perhaps even simpler than you suggest - whichever tack you are on, you can easily deal with the mainsheet, because there is an end belayed on a cleat adjacent to the helmsman. You don't free it when tacking - no need to. It does not give any lateral control, really.

Theoretically, there should be two single blocks under the boom with this system, but you hardly ever see that.

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[Peterduck]

My gaff ketch "Swallow" has this arrangement on both main and mizzen sheets, because I also wanted to have a sheet end close to hand on either tack. If I wanted to get excited about lateral control I would have to put some sort of purchase on the block which travels along the horse, so that I could bring it to windward. I've got quite enough bits of string to pull as it is, so I haven't done that. I also get all the excitement that I need already without looking for more.
Peter.

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[Romeo]

I have the same system. It keeps the sheets out of the way with a near horizontal lead from the cringles at each end of the horse to the cleats. If the sheets are made fast there is no need to interfere with them when tacking. If you have the sheet in your hand you may wish to change "ends" when going through the wind to give a better lead, which can be a bit of a footer when short tacking. Every now and again I find that I have masses of rope at one end and barely a hand hold at the other. There are harder problems to solve in the world than that. Sometimes I look at it and consider whether there is a better system, but it has served us all right for the past few decades. I don't think that changing to this system would give you any more lateral control

R

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[Romeo]

..and come to think of it, it would probably be easier to fix a system to give more lateral control to your current arrangement.

cheers
R

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[Plum]

The system you describe does not give any lateral control. The only advantage of this system is that there is always a sheet cleated on the side of the boat the helmsman is on! However, on a small boat with a small cockpit this advantage is not great......... if you want lateral control, then stick to your present system and add a tackle either side of the hourse traveller so you can haul it to windward when required, but you will probably have a problem with friction.

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[Richard_Blake]

Came across a neat double-ended mainsheet setup on a Rossiter Curlew. Horse mounted on the aft cockpit coaming over the tiller, single block on deck each side, sheet then running forward along side deck, close to cockpit, then into the cockpit fairly well forward through holes and 180 turning blocks in coaming - cleat on inside of coaming. Well to hand for the helmsman to heave in a comfortable direction while facing forward, hip or one hand on tiller, always on the windward side while the crew madly wind winches down to lee. Only possible problem I could see was double quantity of tail flopping about in the cockpit. Although perhaps it's in fact handier to have it conveniently split in two?
Not sure about lateral control - I suspect the lack of it is inherent in any double-ended system, as others have pointed out.
You've reminded me that I've got questions about fitting a similar arrangement on a gaffer, so I'll go start another thread.

All the best
Richard

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[nrorke]

I inherited the double-ended main sheet system you mention in my 2 1/2 tonner when I bought her. As she had a complete refit before I had the chance to try the system, I have no idea how it performed. I wasn't very keen on the idea of an extra pile of loose rope lying around in the well of the cockpit, and could see myself always holding a short end when I wanted to pay out, so I changed it to a simple double block on the boom, and another on the horse, which I've had ever since. I have a jam cleat on the port side of the rear coaming, and another on the starboard, and can switch my one loose mainsheet end as I go about if I want, or later if things are hectic at the time. I've found this system quite satisfactory but have sometimes idly wondered what the original system would be like. Thank you and all your respondents for the useful comments.


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