If your going to go out and play in the "Big winds" just remember; Don't be in a hurry.
Maybe you should try using just the main alone? You will probibly sail dog-pie slow to
weather but it should at least putter along. Then, after the initial adrenelan wears off, try adding some
jib to the mix and see what happens. When I'm
single handing and the weather looks dicy (Summer in
SF Bay its -always- dicey) This is what I tend to do. It ain't fast but it makes the
boat really easy to handle in most weather conditions.
Also I agree 100x10^10% on the
engine thing. Properly reefed/setup sailing vessel in most any weather will be pretty comfortable. Motoring, they tend to be slam bam, tippy, noisy then a
jib sheet tail washes off the
deck, into prop.. How are you going to get outta' this mess? An accadent waiting to happen.
And, if you -are- a
novice sailor, carful on the
shroud tuning. A misunderstanding in this area can really mess things up on a boat.
Have fun!
-jim lee