As mentioned, getting the mainsheet on tight is critical, otherwise the boat will stop before it gets head to wind. If you're struggling to get tension on, luff up a little to take some power off, then bear off again to power up.

With a crew and a jib, you shouldn't have too much trouble: if you can get the jib to back you've won, and this happens before you even get head to wind.

Let some main off as you go through head to wind, and only put it back on once you got some boat speed on the new tack.

Paul