Just the other night we were racing in something gusting 30+ knots under full main and 135% No.2 and I had everything down hard (mainsheet, backstay) and then I let the traveller down and the main started flogging.

Now I know where the stress cracks around the mainsheet track are coming from. The whole cockpit seat and mainsheet track was bouncing up and down about an inch.

So I changed approach and let the main twist off and the top flap by itself.

Excuses: short handed (16 stone less than RTI) and on last fetch into finish so didnt want to lose time reefing.

Result: went from second to fifth on corrected time.

Now to look at spreading the stress, before I fit some thermal insulation over the quarter berths to make for less condensation.