Sorry, I got carried away again. You also asked about seat back to seat back or not. Yes. The longer the traveler, the lower you can drop it. It is really cool to see the differnece on a close or beam reach of a traveler far to leward with the sheet hard versus the sheet loose and a vang on hard. Here again, the vang is trying to make up for the lack of a traveler. But a much better shape can be obtained with the traveler.
I also want to make it clear that I am not trying mock anyone or question there intellegence. I am trying to remain on a level that experts and begginers alike might better understand. It always seems hard to put into words what takes one fun day on the water to show.
Happy sails.
Collin
Collin Casey (gybe-it-at-houston.rr.com)