Jody,

I have a 7:1 mainsheet, sail single handed and do the following

1, If light and not wiring, I may cleat the mainsail now and then, but generally it is out of the cleat unless the kite is up (and not always then).

2, As soon as there is some tension in the mainsheet and it's possible to flip the boat over (so a few kts of wind) I NEVER cleat the mainsail for long. If not wiring, but close to; I might cleat for a second or 2 while I do something else, but this will be for the odd second.

3, As soon as on the wire, the mainsheet never goes into the cleat by accident; I have the cleat set high so I cannot accidently put it in EVER. If I need to change something else like the Downhaul or mast rotation, I will put the mainsheet into my rear hand and tuck the tiller extension under my shoulder - this also allows SOME steering, but takes some practice.

4, In more wind if I need to pull the mainsheet with both hands, I will again tuck the tiller under my arm for a moment or two.



If you find you are tea-bagging a lot, it may be that you do not have enough downhaul on and so you have a sail that is too well powered up and so you cannot sheet it in hard enough. I find (usually) that letting out 200 to 400mm of mainsheet is enough for all but the biggest gusts.