You're not a rebel; you're just going slower than everybody else.

Every sailboat has a velocity polar graph. Here's one for a J-30 monohull:


Wind direction is straight down; sailing angle to the true wind is the radial axis. Boat speed for various wind strengths is then plotted on the x-y axis. Each wind strength has its own line (there's one for 8 10, 12, 16 and 20 kts on the graph above). Only half the graph is drawn, since it is symmetrical about the y axis.

To determine the maximum Velocity Made Good (VMG) downwind, you draw a horizontal line across the bottom of the graph at the lowest point of the curve, then you can easily determine the gybing angle for maximum downwind VMG.

On the J-30, it varies between 150 and 170 degrees to the true wind direction (you can see the little boats on the graph where the max VMG downwind is).

On a Hobie 16, the curves are more kidney-shaped, consequently, they sail a higher angle to the true wind to achieve max VMG downwind.

Experience has taught us the the optimum angle is approximtely 90 degrees to the apparent wind (not true). I use 12 in. lengths of 8-track tape (cheap, plentiful and perfect width) tied to the bridle to help sail downwind. When one tape points at the other bridle, you're at 90 degrees apparent.

Clear as mud?