"Capt" Rob" wrote-
For the cruiser racer, the mid-boom sheeting is the clear winner.

No it isn't. It puts more strain on the rig and gives less
leverage to the trimmer.

Mid-boom sheeting is a holdover from the bad old days of the
IOR rule when racers all had tiny mainsails with very short,
downward-sloping (negative stive) booms. The mainsheet could
be over the companionway and still be at (or close to) the
end of the boom for good leverage.

.... It
clears the cockpit and is far more friendly to guests and young
children.


Capt.Mooron wrote:
That's a design shortfall... not a safety feature.


Oh yes, it *is* a safety feature if you assume that the
sailor in question will always be too clumsy to keep clear
of the mainsheet and too stupid to learn to handle it properly.

DSK