Regarding downhaul during the run... I learned something new from Goodall during F18 Nationals in P'cola. I had always left the cunningham on hard in big air pretty much all the way around the course. The first day was pretty windy and Greg told me to release the downhaul as soon as we rounded the top. Thanks to JC, I've learned that mark roundings aren't really the time for chalk-talk (shutting up!), but I asked Greg about it later. He said that leaving the cunningham on downwind on a spinnaker boat actually tweaks the mast out of it's longitudinal axis, making it more likely to break - particularly for wing masts that have a thinner profile.

Charlie's had some spectacularly bad luck with boats lately. I hope he's okay and considering letting the demon boat go - must have has some bananas on it at some point. Get back into the 5.5s, Charlie (aka F18).