That newsletter is nice! What is required to be put on the list to receive it?
I am going to have to try playing around with your suggestions from the newsletter Mike. I often have the tiller and mainsheet in the same hand, and always so I can sheet out/head up at the same time. I will have to try and work the separately from the same hand....
I always struggle communicating with the crew on when to to break the jib and move it across..
What I think I like to see in heavy/medium air is the crew to have the crew pop the jib from the cleat but keep it sheeted tightly. The second it back winds keep it backwinded but allow it to move across keeping it full right into the new tack, generally with a little pause right at the mast to make sure we pop through head to wind quickly. Then of course trimming it in as we accelerate... Now.. What actually happens is I explain this apparently very poorly..
I hear the main battens pop over and look up to see the jib fully backwinded slowing us down if not stopping the boat completely.
(Now I usually give "on my mark" instructions when to do what to new crew and it seems to work better until they learn enough about what is going on to be teachable)
Last weekend I was out solo in 20-30mph+ conditions.. The lake was very sloppy/choppy and I kept having to resort to "Y" turns to tack. One thing I did find helped the boat in those conditions was to ease the jib just as I began the tack. I think it took some of the 'load' from the rudders and allowed me to carry more speed longer through the tack. I have been curious to try this with some good crew or for a good skipper.
I will have to try a forward facing gybe Mike. Do you have any video of this? I will have to try it, and capture some video that will surely make you laugh!