We get plenty light air in Annapolis, but not with surfing conditions. I agree with most of the above on steering, weight, etc. The spin halyard ease was once popular, but I can't remember doing that in the past 10 years—that may have something to do with better sail designs. We don't plaster the main against the shrouds until it is so light that heating up doesn't help. That would be anytime heat won't get you at least up to 3 knots of boat speed. In that case, point your bow at the mark, over square the pole, and sail dead down wind, or by-the-lee to try to get some reverse flow over the main. Vang may need an ease to open up the leach a bit. Crew leans against the boom to keep it out, while helm adjusts sheet to course. On the kite, use light air sheets, tied with a bowline on the sheet side or both if they don't stretch. Pole height is critical; the leach should go close to straight up from the pole. Beware of overtrimming on a droop, that is when the wind shifts aft and the main blankets the kite. Helmsman should be watching the sail and be ready to head up. Trimmer maintains a running dialog with helm: 'good pressure, press it down; heat it up, we're slow'. Helm always advises trimmer of a course change: 'heading up here to clear our air here'. Never cleat the afterguy. Keep the foreguy tight to stabilize the pole. In the super light air have the trimmer take both sheet and guy or let the helm play the guy.
