How to sail with German running rigging

[dmalovic]

Hi,

Chartering Bavaria Cruiser boats (46, 37) in my Croatia. Learned sailing on a classic sailboat where the main sheet has a traveler.

The Bavarias have the German system where there are two ends of the main sheet, port and starboard. And there is no traveler.

I know how to tack, but would like to learn more about how to sail with it. For instance, if there is weather helm, you usually move the traveler leeward to spill excess wind. How do you do it here? Simply ease the main? Any info or pointers would be welcome. Tried googling but to no avail.

Btw, glad to be a new member of this great and knowledgeable community.

Domi

[meirriba]

If I understand your description, to spill wind you free the upwind line and tighten the downwind line. This will move the boom downwind but keep it tight in the place you wan.

[Jim Cate]

Is there a boom vang (kicking strap or go-fast in some sailing areas)? If so, then just easing the loaded sheet should be ok. If no vang present, then the advice in the previous post should work.

Good luck and enjoy the sailing.

Jim

[Zzmeyer]

Both comments above are correct. Weather helm is generally caused by either excess heeling and the natural tendency for a boat to round up in that state or the center of effort on sails being too far back. Easing the main will help with that. If you are easing to the point of flutter you might consider reefing the main which will help with both.

[alex_sauvage]

I sailed Bavaria 46 with this arrangement and you can set up your main the same way as with traveller, but it requires a number of adjustments and using 3 lines: 2 mainsheets and boomvang. Basically , boomvang plays the role of traditional mainsheet (particulary outside of block positions) to control boom up/down position and induce the twist and mainsheets as traveller to control in/out position. It would take me a bit more time to dial it in than with normal traveller, but it is doable