Hi Peter,

hope you don't mind me throwing in my two bobs worth, what weight are you? I could be wrong but the dropping traveller Tim refers to is something I at 90kg. rarely do, I know Tim Neil and Peter do it but they are in the 70 to 80kg weight range.

So it realy depends on a few factors, I would only drop traveller when I was unable to depower the mainsail any more with the downhaul, with the mast rotation at about 20 degrees and the foot as Tim described it, just touching the boom.

But the most important thing is what feels fast for you.

Oh and having the mast raked back as far as you can without causing to much weather helm. On a older boat with centreboards not at maximum distance back this will be more upright than newer boats.

Regards Gary.