Hi Gill,

avoiding the nose dive to me is all about keeping the pressure out of the rig. So I keep the boat moving as fast as possible at all times and ease the spin sheet as much as possible so I can sail deeper (better VMG).

Sheeting the spinnaker tight can be used to depower it, but that slows you down, making you more susceptible to being knocked over by gusts. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I did sheet the spinnaker tighter once on this day, but that was when I came off a wave flying the hull to high and ventilated the rudders, sheeting the spinnaker tighter made the bow stay down wind, until I could get flow back on the rudders. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />