Ok Nutsy,
Some more from the Old Man;
Heading downwind; if you have the 150% poled out (Ah yes) Take the Lazy
Sheet forward to the Bow mooring cleat and then back to the off side
winch and haul (Barbar haul) the pole down. Just hand tight. Gybe the
Main over to wing-on-wing and barbar haul the Boom, if you don't have a
preventer. Now you have both sails under control for downwind, Ease the
helm gently to force the jib to windward (maybe as much as 20 degrees or
until the jib starts to back) then drop back just until the jib starts
to draw again. You'll get your boat down wind almost as fast a a chute.
You'll be amassed at the speed you'll pick up.
You can travel like that until you can come back to your course on a
fast broad reach. Give it a try. It will satisfy that big Main and be a
lot faster and easier going down wind.
If you like it you can mount a Cunningham hook on the deck, forward of
the main but back where you can easily hook the Lazy sheet, like I did
My female crew call it it "Cookie Tack" They're set it up and I'd pass
them the bag bag of cookies I'd buy for them on sailing nite. It was
time for them to sit still ans gab.
P/S It was also the tack I'd like to cut loose a healthy Fart and let
it sail with us down wind :^)
My tip for the first of Aug. Take it or leave it
http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomPage