We still use the chicken line on downwinds where there is less than 5 minutes between gybes and find it does not take that long to hook up.

I am now in moderate breeze, hooking in myself on the first gybe as I am already out there. Just clamp the main between your hand and tiller and use your other hand to reach down, grap the hook and hook up. Also tend to do it on the last gybe leg comming into the bottom mark.

However when it is 'blowing the numbers off the sail' I'll let the crew go out