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Hi Tim, yes I'm back for the summer, sailing 3007 and doing some crewing for Ian on his new Merlin. How are you? Thanks for the help, does the sheet then go straight to the helm? You say it helps in light winds, is the effect of the mainsheet tension small compared to the kicker in a blow?

On my boat (3007), I have a mainsheet "horse" which is simply a piece of rope leading to aech side of the transom, with the lower mainsheet block tied to a fixed point in the centre of it. Is there any benefit to be had from leading each side to a cleat where they can be adjusted on the water? I have seen the centre mainsheet systems on the merlins where the traveller slides across the top of the hoop. I was told that it was done so that the main could be sheeted rigth in when sailing upwind without pulling the boom downwards as much, this makes sense but does it have a significant effect? Thanks is advance.