| Here are some various sheeting methods for controlling your
main sail. Not shown is simply holding the mainsheet in your
hand - some people feel that makes the sail 'too responsive'
to the wind and you are less able to maintain a constant angle
on your sail. I sail my Puddle Duck Racers this way - simple
and straightforward.
I have never tried having a block on the tiller. Some peole
say it is the easiest thing in the world, you just put a swivel
block (pulley) on the tiller over the pintles (pivot point
for the rudder), tie the mainsheet to the end of te boom,
run it through the block, and then to your hand.
I have used the sheet horse method. The sheet horse can be
a separate line or a rod - like a piece of plumbing pipe.
The traveler is usually 2 blocks connected with a swivel.
The traveler runs back and forth along the horse while the
mainsheet runs from the end of the boom through the upper
block and then to your hand.
I don't know what this last method is, but I have seen it
used on many production sailboats. I use a slightly more complex
version on my 17ft Weekender.
All these methods work. The more blocks you have between
the boom and your hand, the more control you have on your
sail.
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