Some of you gaff rigged guys may not know of a glorious old trick for
reducing sail in a squall. Just let go the peak halyard; down swings the
gaff, and you have "scandalized" the sail. It doesn't look great, and I
suspect it do flop around a bit, but you have a dramatically reduced and
still managable sail plan.
In one of his writings, I think it was about the folding schooner but
makes senese for the Light Schooner and the single-handed schooners, Phil
advocates that, in a breeze of wind, the boat goes very well with reefed
main, full foresail, and no jib at all.
Yours for more fun in heavy weather,
Bill Wallace in Houston