I’d been toying with the notion of easier and safer mainsail traveler arrangement. Something about getting older – supposedly wiser – and definitely weaker.
Quality Time is a Catalina 30 with a 3:1 traveler on the cabin top. Rigged with two 3/8″ lines cleated at the traveler track’s ends. Typical 1978 design. I not so fondly remember reaching for the port traveler line and ending up busting the oven with my stern. Caused a bruise and a couple hour repair job.
Spending some time doodling produced a couple 6:1 designs. Cool. Except one was equivalent to cutting the traveler’s track in half. The other 6:1 would break the bank.

This morning I had time while waiting for Bill. I pulled out the “jewelry box”  and found two single blocks. Messing around I came up a 5:1 purchase, but no easy way to cleat.

When Bill got there we did trials at the dock. He is always more practical than I. He pointed out that 5:1 is a lot of line to pull; then asked how to cleat it. Oops. The plan to get a 20-something filling a bikini while appealing didn’t seem overly practical.

And as luck would have it I didn’t have enough line for both sides.

Luck because I remembered reading of using a continuous line technique. The line’s ends terminate on either side of the traveler and run in a loop from each of the cleats at the end of track.

Plan A: Keep the 5:1 and buy two fiddles each with shackle and becket; about $100 plus. Not bad, but part of the fun is balancing function with cost.

Plan B: give up on 5:1 and rig as 4:1. I didn’t really want to give up that extra purchase because I’d originally tried for a 6:1. I was a bit doubtful that 4:1 would do it.

So we rigged a 4:1 with continuous loop of 1/16 thinner line. About 42 feet of 5/16 inch. Then went for a sea trial. Winds 12 to 15, seas 3 foot. Did a lot of 6 knot sailing playing a lot with the traveler.

A-freaking-mazing. So, so much easier. And well beyond safety expectations because, as it turns out, you don’t have to leave the high side to release the low side. The line is always in reach. Solo sailing a wheel you might want a bit more line. And not a tangle to catch the unwary.

You’ll love it.