A name for a line?

[LoudMusic]

Do the lines that control the mainsheet traveler have a name? Something other than "mainsheet traveler control lines"?

[StuM]

I've never heard a specific name for them.

[Alan Mighty]

Excellent question, LoudMusic!

On fore-and-aft rigged sailing boats, "traveller" is mostly taken for granted these days as a mainsheet traveller.

Two generations back, travellers were more common as names for things that moved inboard and outboard or up and down. The tack of a jib topsail on gaff-rigged cutters was hauled inboard and outboard on a traveller, which was usually an iron (or bronze) ring encircling the bowsprit, with a tackle to haul the traveller in- and outboard. Travellers might also be found on stays and shrouds.

In general the lines doing the hauling of the traveller were "hauls". Inhauls, outhauls, uphauls, and downhauls, depending on the context.

I agree with StuM - I've not heard anyone use a name other than "control line" or just "control" for a mainsheet traveller.

Quite thought provoking to realise (1) that no dedicated name has arisen; and (2) that we take for granted - until your query - that we lack a dedicated name.

[james247]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

Excellent question, LoudMusic!



On fore-and-aft rigged sailing boats, "traveller" is mostly taken for granted these days as a mainsheet traveller.



Two generations back, travellers were more common as names for things that moved inboard and outboard or up and down. The tack of a jib topsail on gaff-rigged cutters was hauled inboard and outboard on a traveller, which was usually an iron (or bronze) ring encircling the bowsprit, with a tackle to haul the traveller in- and outboard. Travellers might also be found on stays and shrouds.



In general the lines doing the hauling of the traveller were "hauls". Inhauls, outhauls, uphauls, and downhauls, depending on the context.



I agree with StuM - I've not heard anyone use a name other than "control line" or just "control" for a mainsheet traveller.



Quite thought provoking to realise (1) that no dedicated name has arisen; and (2) that we take for granted - until your query - that we lack a dedicated name.

If your working that area of a boat port and starboard usually Defines which travel or is to be eased or taken in. The main sheet traveler is the rail that carries the main sheet blocks.
The job traveller has fore and aft traveler lines. And correctly these lines are called hauls and change names on context. "No not that one you goose the other" side is often used for folk who don't know boat speak.