We must all consider one thing here.

The superwing masts are rather flexible and as such the tuning and control of the mast top is always a play between the mainsheet, downhaul and the initial bend of the mast. If you just pull on the downhaul when the mast is straight on the beach. Then you will not be able to get very far. When you do it on the water where there is ample mainsheet tension producing on initial bend then you can get it very far.

The more the mast is bend initially, the easier it is to put more downhaul on.

It is not usefull nor wise to ONLY pull hard on the downhaul when the boat is on the beach head into wind and with a slack mainsheet. The only thing you are doing there is trying to damage your sail.

Therefor you should always adjust BOTH the downhaul and mainsheet together. This may not have to mean at exactly the same time but right next to one another nevertheless. Always start with the mainsheet when increasing the downhaul and start with the downhaul when decreasing its tension. Of course this is not necessary for small changes; we are talking big changes here, like trying to get to the max.

Gilo, on the water the mast will bang less from side to side as the mainsheet will be "on" and keeping the mast bend through the tack. Simply put not everything can be similated on the beach and this is one of those things.

Wouter