Forward Sheeting

Anyone ever experiment with a forward sheeting system on a H17 (where the final reeve of the mainsheet runs forward along the boom and then cleats either on the bottom of the boom or down on the tramp in front of the skipper)?

It seems that this is more or less the standard on A-Class boats these days. I'm wondering what the advantage is and if it may also be applicable to the H17.

sm

The short answer to your question is no. At least in my experience.

Most A-Class Cats have a semi-circular traveler, which allows the sheet tension to remain constant when traveling out with mid-boom sheeting. That wouldn't happen on a 17 with its straight traveler - you'd have to ease the sheet as you traveled out.

I'm not sure the boom could withstand the bending forces, either. They flex a lot already.

(That's Greg Raybon in Australia, BTW.)

I had the same thought about the boom strength being marginal. Was just curious if anyone had tried it and if there might be an advantage (I don't actually know why the A Class guys do it). One potential advantage I could see would be when sailing downwind in a breeze, when the boom is traveled out, the bottom main block tends to angle down which makes uncleating difficult. A centrallly located cleat might make things easier.

sm