Colin,

here is some idea's from as being tried on that other lightweight singlehander boats whose names may not be said in combi with "A-cat" <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Re-route your maintraveller sheet so you get a FULL 180 degree wrap around the mainsheet ratchet blocks. Your holding power with more then double. I assume you have triple blocks both on top and bottom and a ratchet in the middle position of the lower block. And I assume you have the becket on the top block and a smaller block on the clear becket of the lower block. With this setup you can re-route the mainsheet to do a full 180 wrap around the ratchet.

Otherwise use two auto ratchets blocks on the boom (or one on boom and one on tramp). This trick is now very often used on the spinnaker boats to hold the spi sheet. We (name boat type withheld) use it all when singlehanding the spinnaker with one hand. And I can assure you that the spi loads in 20 knots are higher then the mainsheet loads. Just have these two blocks in series so the holding power of the first block magnifies the holding power of the second block. It is by far best to use autoratchets in this setup as this will allow full free running intiatially while only locking on with reaching the end of your sheeting at high loads. Also the line will run very smoothly through the blocks when you push the sheet towards the block. The blocks will then disengage fully and therefor your sheet will run quicker and more smoothly then a permanent ratchet.

I'm personally still using 1:7 on my mainsheet. And I have 5 mm swiftcord with a 3 mm dyneema core line that I inserted myself. Thus making the part that you are holding about 8 to 9 mm thick while leaving the ends at 5 mm and 3 mm thick. I have yet to develop problems at the splice (which I don't have). The 3 mm dyneema runs through my mainsheet blocks and when fully pulled on the "splice" has just passed the first sheeve. The other end acts as traveller control and is just 5 mm thick swiftcord (no line inserted there). I like my the thickness of my mainsheet and certainly wouldn't want it any smaller then that.

I hope this helps.

If you want I can make pictures of the rerouting of the mainsheet through the blocks.

Wouter