Thanks for the informative post! My hesitation to cough up the cash and try to hide it from the wifey <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> is probably due to the fact that without ever sailing with downhaul in hand and using it as a throttle control... I don't know what I'm missing.

Yes. When I begin to heal too much, I have always first leaned my fat-butt out a little farther (I probably weigh waaaay too much to race), then pinched up and finally spilled air in order to prevent a capsize. I've only capsized 2-3 times with this 18.2 mainly because I prefer to keep sailing and don't find flipping "fun" per say. If I can avoid it - I do. All of my capsizes have been because of mistakes on my part or a sheet that wouldn't uncleat.

The sail is the stock Mylar, pointed-tip sail. The spreaders are raked and I do know that by cranking down hard on the stock downhaul on the beach, I can put some pretty good bend into the aluminum mast. I keep the diamond wires pretty tight.