Thom Stewart wrote:
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.

Agreed, and Oz1 suggested this too but it is also something that
requires good judgement & skill by the helmsman, and furthermore it may
not be an option due to traffic, depth, etc etc.

For example, it's not uncommon in a heavy gust... or a gust accomanied
by a big lift... to be momentarily overpowered and have the boat slow
and the rudder flirt with stalling... if you're trying to feather into
it at this point, you may spin out or even do a zippy auto-tack... bad news!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King