Like Matt & srm said, you want to primarily use the mainsheet (the line that goes to the ratchet block) to sheet in and sheet out the mainsail. The line that goes to the traveller car allows the car to travel transversely towards the leeward hull or towards the swivel cam in the center of the rear crossbar. That line is used to travel in or travel out the traveller, and is basically only used to set the gross position of the mainsail.
* When sailing upwind, the traveller car should be as close to centered as you can get it, and you should be using the mainsheet (through the ratchet blocks) to control the sail. Bring it in tight until the hull starts to lift out of the water, and then back it off a little as necessary to keep it from lifting too high. In the gusts, let it out some more, in the lulls, bring it in some more. It's basically your gas pedal, & tighter = more power from the sail.
* When sailing downwind, the traveller car should be about 6" from the inside edge of the leeward hull, about in line with the hiking strap on the trampoline, and the mainsheet should be let out to the point that your mainsail is almost touching the leeward shroud. You should be sailing downwind at an apparent wind angle of 90 degrees (which is about 135 degrees to true wind, on a broad reach).
The mainsheet is both easier to control (thanks to the 6:1 or 7:1 purchase) and more fine tuned control. Technically, the traveller controls the position of the sail, and the sheet tension controls the twist in the sail. Once the sail is in the right position for your point of sail, using the mainsheet to control the twist is how you fine tune to get the most power out of your sail.
_________________ Mike '79 H18 standard ' Rocketman II' sail #14921 RIP '78 H18 ( unnamed) sail #14921'08 H16 sail #114312'97 H21SC sail #238
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