Tom,

There are a lot of things I'm not sure of in your question? Are you
using self tailing winches? Is your main and traveler center boom or
end?

It sounds like he released the main from the Cabin top. If that was the
case, then you probably should have been easing INTO the wind enough to
keep the hull under you but still be making headway while he adjusted
the jib sheet.

The helm should start getting heavy (weather helm) as you heel. When
this happens it is time to start adjusting sail trim. You want some
weather helm (About 15 degrees)

The easiest and fastest way to release air is with the helm, into the
wind and then sail adjustments.

Ole Thom