I like to get the main board flat when breeze is up or crew is light (or both)-best achieved by high rig tune (at 15 knots with light crew I would be between 39 and 40 on the Loos on inners and outers). Mainsheet tight and leave it that way, play the traveler aggressively, play the backstay in big puffs to drop the top of the sail off. If the main is sufficiently flattened, it should only bubble a bit when the traveler is dropped and will rarely flog.
In flat water/solid breeze with light crew, (if you have enough manpower) have you ever tried going with the three upwind and changing to the 1 for the downwind?
