Hi - I have Inter17 in UK & no Kite. I know that when going upwind I can depower the rig in a gust: I point higher (without altering downhaul, traveller, main sheet etc), depower things & when gust passes I just return to same course (having gained some ground upwind). What about when I'm doing deep, broad reaches on the downwind leg of a course? In strong winds, I want to take advantage of a gusts to loose ground (& also depower rig), without digging in hulls & grinding to a halt? What do you do; Luff up little? Bear away more? Hike out & back further? Thanks

Play the traveller if you are reaching in the neighborhood of 90* to the wind.

If you are trying to go as deep as you can going downwind you will want to turn down to depower. If you find yourself going basically dead downwind and still plowing in the bows, start pulling your boards up.

In those conditions without the kite, I like to pull up the traveler and sheet a bit harder. It effectively makes the "barn door" smaller.

Bob