Dennis, 2 thoughts on your post

1. I always attach my bitter ends of my mainsheet and traveler sheet so I can control them both from the wire (and so the main can't run out of the blocks). BUT perhaps a carabineer that simply runs freely through the main/trav attached to my harnes might work.

That being said... I have seen people fall overboard... hold the mainsheet... and as the boat takes off... they are pulled through the water and end up sheeting in the main... increasing the boat speed. I have seen people* dragged at 10knots... only to let go of their boat as it rockets off! -

Conversely after you sheet it in all the way (while being dragged though the water), if you are lucky... your boat can capsize without any weight on it. I am sure this is better that it taking off and hitting something.



2.crew??? Who cares if they fall over? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />



*I have done the mainsheet climb back up my boat 2 times.... both times I went for a swim were due to operator error, but it happens.