I trying to figure out this new cat I got (NACRA 570). On my old cat I went from separate maisheet and traveler to a continuous loop, an quite liked it since I felt like I always had both with me. On the new cat it's again separate.

What's the preferred way, and why?

I understand that if the crew runs the mainsheet maybe separate is beneficial, but even then a continuous loop should work as long as you have enough sheet.

Most racers run a continious mainsheet that runs through the traveler at the end. You can tie the end of your mainsheet to your traveler line if they are separate and you want to be able to control both with one line.

Disclaimer: I am not a racer

i have tried both ways. I liked the continuous line because the knot i use to tie them together cant come separated (usually happens when i am on the trap wires )

BUT if you have to travel out in a fast way... i find it easier to look down and see the traveler line if its a different color.

I have gone back to separate lines for this reason.

Me too....I often blow the traveler accidentally with a single line. Two colors helps too when you are old like me.

I recently switched to this system as well. The lines are separate but tied together. I haven't had an issue with the sheets coming untied.

I've always had a continuous line for both. I've never accidently blown the traveler because of this (maybe for other reasons...)

Best of both worlds for you right here.

Splice in a sister/brummel hook on each line then you can hook them together as you wish ,different color or types of line etc.
I used to have a problem of the traveler and main getting under and around the rudder after a righting. The sister hook solved this problem,all ya gotta do is un-hook and pull it right.The sister hooks do rarely un-hook themselves but a little piece of rigging tape nips that in the bud.
Todd

Do you ever find yourself in situations where you're pulling on the line such that the sister hooks take the load? Do they hold up?

For that matter, you could just splice two lines of different color together. If you're racing, check your class rules for restrictions.

Mike

Or you could dip 8' of your line into RIT dye

How is that better than simply tyeing them together?

If you gotta ask, the cool factor is WAY higher and sister hooks don't seize up when you pull on them. They also don't put a big turd in the middle of your sheet or come untied.They're also alot faster to rig and unrig and give you a static setting that's always the same. For cruising, knots may be fine, but I don't like it on a race boat.You can tie knots in yours all you want.

Tback,
I have ground on the traveler with the sister hooks taking the load with NO problem. If your traveler is long enough it shouldn't be an issue. I made my traveler a little longer because in heavy reaching conditions (alot of the Tybee,last year) I found myself holding the sister hooks with the full load on the traveler. Not real comfy on your hands, but an extra foot or so solved that problem.

I have a separate mainsheet and traveler tail that I do knot together - but I space the knot so it's at my extended reach when on the trapeze...that way if it's a gonzo blasting reaching with an offshore breeze day, I can dump the traveler and A) know that I've dumped it all the way without looking at it (knowing where the knot is) and B) a firm hold on it to get it mostly back in when the puff you couldn't see dissipates.

one big loop works nicley, no nots to come undone, no clips to go wrong, and there should be prob with blowing the wrong bit, don't cleat your main.

Talk to me when you're 47 kid

I do the same - I use a double fishermans knot to tie the two lines together. This produces a round knot that is very easy to grasp when your hands are tired towards the end of a long day in the office. I use a skinny line for the traveller because it runs better through the traveller car, and you don't have to pull on the skinny line when the loads are super high (e.g. out on the wire double trapped reaching) - because you have the end of the mainsheet and the knot to work with.

I use different colored lines so if you are working the mainsheet downwind with the kite but then need to dump an arm of traveller (e.g. a big stuff) then you always grab the right line.

Chris.

I like what I'm hearing because this solves all my problems. I get to have a contentious loop that I like from before, but by tying the two lines together I do not have to buy a new longer sheet, and I get different colors. I like it when it's a win-win situation..

Thanks guy, don't know what I didn't think of a simple knot before...

and if you have a split tail tied to eyestraps on the rear beam, the knot between the traveler line and mainsheet is usually easier to untie and you can leave the traveler tail on the boat when trailering.

I use this method, be sure to use the Double Fisherman's Bend knot:

http://www.animatedknots.com/doublefishermansrescue/index.php

I'm adding a piece of brightly colored tape to the traveler end, just so I know which is which.

That knot will also keep the traveler from blowing out of the track.