I'm 6'2" 240 pounds. I have no trouble vang sheeting the main in 20+ knots. What I do have trouble with is getting around the marks. I've always liked to use the main in conjunction with the rudder to get the boat around the marks, but with the straight 6:1 purchase on my mainsheet there's just too much sheet. I am going to try a set-up that has both 2:1 and 10:1 and see if things improve. I had straight 3:1 on my J24 and could just spin her around marks!

We do a lot of short course stuff so mark roundings can be critical. We had one race last year W/L twice around that took us all of 19 minutes to complete the course!

I tested dozens of gross trim/fine tune setups including the Harken Magic block system before settling on a two-line 4:1/4:1 (see page 24 system G of the 2000 Layline Catalog). It uses the existing hexaratchet base, but the double with becket on top is replaced with a low profile triple with becket, ratchet and cam. On the boom I used two of the existing three sheeves for the gross trim, added a small floating double for the fine tune. Use different colored sheets and keep both aft of the traveler during the tacks so they won't get tangled. While the fine tune is very nice, the real advantage is being able to quickly ease or trim downwind with the gross trim. That's the reason I chose 4:1/4:1 over 6:1/2:1 which could be done with the same setup and a single floating block. Be sure to ease the fine tune before dumping the main to duck or round the weather mark or you won't be able to release the gross...email if you want details.

I think Sea Biscuit has a novel approach to rig tension. They leave the shrouds alone, and adjust the forestay. When it blows, they crank the headstay tighter and that automagically tightens the shrouds. Or at least that's what I was once told. Unfortunately, I don't have any quantitive numbers.

On Lake Michigan, when it blows there's usually a bit of wave associated with it. While we're sometimes able to carry a #1 in 25 kts when it's really flat, we have generally switched to a 2 or 3. The terrible thing about having a decent 2 is you have another choice to make

As to rig tension, we leave the headstay alone and crank on shroud tension. Like Bob Rutsch, I remember loose gauge numbers and not pounds. With 1/4" rigging I put about 45.5 on the uppers, and 44.5-45 on the lowers. With a flattening reef, our main can be really flat with the backstay pulled down to just below the stern rail.

I'm afraid I'm not coordinated enough to handle main trim and steer in those conditions. We keep the main sheeted pretty hard, and the main trimmer is working the traveler. When we're working well, there's quite a bit of conversation between the trimmer and driver.

As to rigging changes, we've moved our backstay adjustment forward and double ended so the helm or main trimmer can adjust it. We also have a fine tune on the main so even my daughter could crank on an extra inch when it's blowing 30.

I think we're one of the faster boats around here upwind in a breeze. Downwind, some good crew work seems to keep us in the hunt.