On Tue, 06 May 2008 17:19:19 -0600, Paul Cassel
wrote:

I'm having a tough time seeing the initial setup. You are motoring
northward with the Stream and on a run or very broad reach? Is that it?
What I'm having a tough time with is if you are on a broad reach or run,
why the engine? I personally hate the things and if you are on a run,
you are moving the disgusting diesel exhaust into your cockpit / cabin.

Do I have the setup right or am I missing something?

You're not missing a thing, the question is why. I suppose the only
real answer is inexperience.

Flying a spinnaker at night with only one person on deck is not a good
idea. Wing and wing with the jib poled out and the boom prevented is
one traditional solution of course, and it works pretty well. The
*really* serious downwind cruisers have always favored a double head
sail rig with twin poles, and the main down.

Keeping the main strapped down hard, dead downwind in a decent breeze
and large swells is a recipe for disaster. The only time I'd do that
even temporarily is jibing the spinnaker short handed.

The other solution is the one I originally proposed: reaching up high
enough that the jib is full, thus minimizing the chances of an
accidental. That does require an occasional jibe to stay on course
but that's easily managed with an auto pilot at the helm.