Here is how you should roll tack the boat.

Enter the turn with speed. Main will be flat and in HIGH GEAR.

Begin the turn with steadily increasing pressure on the helm to insure the water stays attached all the way through the turn.
Move aft at the same time.
Ease the mainsheet just as you go through the eye of the wind.
(By easing the mainsheet, you are straightening the mast, making the sail fuller and easing the leech. You have now shifted down into SECOND GEAR. Just like a race car driver, you need to gear down into the turn and power out of it.)
Note that the leech is tight in HIGH GEAR. And when you begin the turn, the tight leech helps the rudder by weathervaning the boat to windward. But, once through the eye of the wind, you no longer want that tight leech -- the reason why the traveler idea will not work.

How much sheet you ease is dependent upon the boat design, wind, waves, etc. The less you leave out the faster you will re-accelerate. However, boats like the H17 need to have more sheet eased. The more you leave out, however, the more the boat will slow down and the more time it will take to accelerate out of the turn.

Back to weight Distribution. Once the boat is on a close-reach heading, straighten the rudders, switch helm and sheet amidship and go forward, ooching forward as you sit. All of this will get you through the turn faster and speed out of the turn quicker.

I spent a lot of money and effort to develop this technique and it can be thoroughly seen and understood on our new video. Check it out at http://store.catsailor.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&grp=178 and it is available in PAL Version as well for our friends overseas.

Good luck,
Rick