Haven't seen any posts here in a while.

A question came up at the yacht club last night while blowing the froth off
a couple.

Since I have a traveller, I have two adjustments for my main sail on my
Catalina 27. For a beat, I usually tension the boom so there's sufficient
draft in my main sail with the main sheet, then I adjust the traveller so
the boom is parallel with my boat. I've always thought this allows me to
point better into the wind and I've never thought it slowed me down.

One sailor was telling me last night to ease the traveller a little and this
will add speed. (boom not parallel with boat)

With my GPS, when I do this, I don't notice any drop in speed, but I must
turn off the win a little.

Anybody have any aurgument against boom parallel with the boat on a beat?

Guy in Florida