Downwind Sailing-how do you keep the sail from folding

In the 15 EC we were sailing at a steady 8-9 kts with occasional surges to 11 or 12, and three Hobie Islands were keeping up with us. We were at Stump fast in our fastest time ever (around 3:30), and so were the Islands, and they pedaled into the tide and wind while we beat and got nowhere. Greybeard and I rented a TI in the Keys and had a great 30 mile sail in about 20 kts of wind (it was wet!). That wold me.

I have been reading with interest about your capsize and plan to add safety lines, probably with a bungee to protect the boat. I have a pocket full of extra nylon bolts, too.

What boat RR? A mono?

I also analyzed the several solutions to improve the downwind sailing. I excluded the flexiboom and the barber hauler because i dont want to waste time everytime I have to put my AI into the water and i dont like to have more lines.
The paddle with a notch is an easy method. I preferred a different one. I keep a quite short bungee with a hook (or carabineer) on the rear aka, since I am tall I can easily lean and position this bungee quite distant from the hull. when I need to change side I can easily move and fix this bungee to the other ama.

Does anyone happen to have a picture they could post with the paddle method in use (or description)? My feeble mind is having a hard time picturing this setup at sail.
Thanks!

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Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

Oh, duh. Thanks, Tonyscott! I was picturing the other end connected to the mast somehow...

NOHUHU, my last several ECs I have sailed Core Sounds, this year it was the new Mark III I just finished.