What's wrong with this traveler?

[Inquisitor]

I've been beating this around in my head for a week or two and wanted to get your all's expert opinions.

As I single-hand from the captains chair and finish pulling in the genoa... I have just pulled off the most beautiful tack in the world (in my rose-colored mind). I reach for the traveler's lines that I left draped across the helm. They are nowhere to be found! (in my most proper sailor's tongue) <expletive> I have to get off my throne and search for them in the pile of main and genoa sheets <expletive><expletive><expletive>><expletive><expletive>...

The day is lost! dashed on the rocks... time to go home!

I finally got to the point where I just leave the traveler centered and just call it good (actually I call it many things). In other words, I ignore the cursed beast's existence for its ability to ruin my perfect disposition.

Then there's the beast's other side. She always seems to be in the way... if I want to go down, she's in the middle... if I need to go forward, she's on the side I want to go up. <expletive><expletive><expletive>.

Getting the <expletive> beast out of the way is for another discussion... today, I'm interested in setting an optimum tacking position and letting it ride and run side to side by itself. Let it chase its on <expletive> tail. I did a quick Google search and found that most all travelers seem to be like the one on our M's. Therefore... assuming I didn't invent sliced bread, there must be something wrong with this design. The following image is simply a schematic... getting the lines so they don't jam and/or tangle as it slides across are simply ignored for the moment. It still has the same 2:1 advantage, but only has one line to set and once set its good for both port and starboard tacks.

Can you clue me into the what I am missing... or capability I'm giving up? Thanks.

VBR.

[Jimmyt]

Probably work fine until you get really technical with your sail tuning. Now that I'm starting to get a sense of you, I can tell that it's only a matter of time until you will be one of the most technical Mac sailors... Anyway, setting the traveler to windward has some utility, and you won't be able to do it with that setup.

Here's some info. You'll probably be able to find a lot more.

[Tomfoolery]

I'm not clear on what you're trying to accomplish. If you want the traveler to move freely when tacking, just ease the lee control so when you tack, the traveler can move freely to the opposite side.

Being able to move the traveler to the windward side has advantages, though, which you lose with the rig in your sketch.

[Inquisitor]

I'm not clear on what you're trying to accomplish. If you want the traveler to move freely when tacking, just ease the lee control so when you tack, the traveler can move freely to the opposite side.

Being able to move the traveler to the windward side has advantages, though, which you lose with the rig in your sketch.

The main goal was to have a self tacking traveler. If the destination was directly upwind, tacking both sides required no traveler adjustment. It would also only involve adjusting one line instead of two. And you are certainly correct... this design cannot be pushed to windward.

Here's some info. You'll probably be able to find a lot more.

Pictures are good... one picture is worth a thousand words. It made it instantly understandable what I was missing. I have never taken advantage of that capability... but will want to keep the ability to do so.

Thank you both for pointing out the now understandable reason for a traveler to be the way it is. I'll stick with the tried and true.