A little off topic, but I do not want to open a complete new topic:
During our sailing last weekend we had a little too much wind (for us). We had 19-20 knots with gusts to 25 knots. Lots of water flushed over the trampoline eventhough we were on one hull all the time.
A small "problem" which we already experienced before, came up again. The mainsheet (which is also the travelersheet on the other end) flushed overboard all the time. When sheeting in as the crew, I do not want to keep the complete sheet in my hands all the time as I need my hands for sheeting in. Therefore the rest is on the trampoline. Do you have a trick to keep it there?
I spend this last sunday also on the water (Northsea); like you said much wind (above 20 kn and gusts above 25). I had a marvelous time since long ago ( I've spoiled so many sailing days lately with trying to learn kitesurfing)
Anyway, I don't understand your question exactly. Don't you want to have both ends of the mainsheet in your two hands? But you are the crew member with the sheets?
I always sail single-handed and have the sail-side end of the sheet in the front hand and the rudderstick and the traveller-end of the sheet combined in the back hand.
That's why I made a handle at the end of the stick. It makes it easier to grab it together with a sheet. By the way I loop the slack of the sheet in so many nooses hanging in my backhand as necessary. Both ends of the mainsheet stand taut in the camcleat. So they can be released in one strike with the hand.
Especially in circumstances like this sunday, I'm very keen on this sheet-handling.
I do have a problem with my jib sheet though. When I hit very big waves too fast, now and then the jibsheet will jump out of the cleat because the jibsheet will bounce and even fly on the tramp and release itself.
