As a bonus question, what is different about the boat in the pic from
most conventional sloops that might affect the skipper's range of
successful options?


Martin Baxter wrote:
Do the opposite of what seems obvious, head down, get under the
main,
jybe.


Aw, you must have cheated.

An asymmetric spinnaker on the end of a long fixed pole or sprit will
exert a lot of leverage to make the boat head downwind, even when
totally luffing or flogging. Therefore heading up, as becomes reflex
for people driving fast monohulls, doesn't work.

One thing I have not tried is to let go the pole extending line,
letting the sprit retract and taking away the leverage. I suspect the
pole might not draw back easily under the circumstances but since it
is a common way to capsize, finding ways to get out of that situation.

I'd like to try an articulating bowsprit, when in this situation you
could dump the guy and let it fold back.

As a big plus, a-sails don't make the boat broach and actually help
steer downwind.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King