Stephen,

Are you sailing 1-up or 2-up? If 1-up, the "pull faster" thing is right: take up all the slack in the retrieval line before releasing the halyard and then get the first few metres through really fast. Once the patches start to hit the snuffer, it'll be under control. If you sailing 2-up and helming, just shout louder <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Paul