I've sailed my 5.2 quite a lot solo without the jib: add to the mess on the trampoline an additional sheet (the spi) and loop (spi halyard) plus a downhaul and its rapidly becoming unmanageable! So I usually left the jib home to sail with the spi instead.

* Make sure to rake the mast forward, mine is dead straight and I still have quite a pull upwind.

* Upwind my traveler is centered, and I have no problem getting all the telltales to flow. Just sheet hard, downhaul according to the wind and let it fly. Build some speed first by bearing off and start beating and sheeting hard only when you have enough speed built up.

* The boat is underpowered without a jib, so yeah, it's slower. Make sure you don't pull to much on the outhaul and the downhaul, you need the power.

* As you noticed, you need to release more mainsheet in order to tack