I read the following and have some questions...

Luff Tension (turbo charger):
"This prebends the mast flattening the sail while at the same time the tip of the mast moves back, shortening the distance between the clew and the head, hence losing the leach and allowing the leach to fall away. This is less power and less drag.

Luff tension should always be eased before any major easing of the mainsail, otherwise youll stretch the cloth.

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With most cats you need a power downhall system. Aim for 12:1 as a mininimum, I ran with 18:1.

Most new cat sailors do not utilise the daownhaul as much as they should. This control should be used as your principal adjustment on the boat and should be constantly altered to keep the power in the rig. The skipper shouldnt have to ease the main or feather while it is possible to have more downhaul pulled on. The crew needs to watch for wind gusts and pull accordingly and ease as the gust passes.

The fastes was upwind is to have the windward hull always just above the water (reverse of the wildthing). Your principle control for achieving this is downhaul first, main tension second, and rudder adjustment last. Remember every rudder adjustment is like putting the brakes on.

If the boat is heeling in the gusts or the skipper is feathering up in the gusts then you dont have enough downhaul on.

I cannot stress downhaul enough, it is your turbo charger, use it. If in doubt, pull some more on."

I dont know who the author is and I hope I dont offend him or her for reproducing it here, but it come from a AUS site which I would be glad to give credit to.

Now, my racing knowledge is limited to sailing as crew on H16 B fleet in the late 70s, but I dont ever rmemeber downhual big a big deal, and certainly not adjusting it myself. My job was the jib and being human ballast especially running downwind in big seas.

So, how do you guys use your downhaul? Is it that much?

Do you have a long line to your crew for him or her to constantly adjust it? Mine has almost no line left after I sheet it down.

Should I switch to another system where I have a seperate cleat for my crew to use?

Any pics of a system like this?

Is downhaul the principal adjustment even before mainsheet tension (my principal adjustment)?

Should I be releasing luff tension prior to every tack then applying it again to accelerate out of the tack?

Should I be applying more luff tensions with gusts then backing off(usually I ease the traveler if I feel I need to)?

Should I ease downhaul (luff tension) while on a run?

Any general knowledge you can share using downhaul as a primary adjustment?

On another note, I was watching some youtube video of nacras and noticed on crew (nacra infusion test sail, I believe) actually sheeting the main with the skipper just stearing. Is this widely done?

Thanks for any nuggest you can pass on-
Don