Down wind sailing

I either let the large rubber-covered end just sit against the opposite gear pocket if it's not a long run, or clip the snap to the black eyelet just in front of the gear pocket on the starboard side if it is a long one. A bungee over the whisker pole keeps the sail from pulling the outboard end up too much in a gust or you can just hold it down with your hand. Keeping the pole down ensures that each gust translates into a great burst of speed going downwind.

I have considered mounting a padeye (with a strong backing plate) somewhere in the center of the boat just below the mast, I just haven't done it yet. And yes the bungie acts much like a boomvang. btw: I loop the bungie (it's a long bungie) around the ama carrying handle and attach it to the eye of the sail at the same time I attach the snap shackle from the 'whisker pole.' One could also tie a small block to the ama handle and run a line from the sail through the block to the cockpit...but then it's getting kinda complicated again!? I might work on both those ideas this week now that you guys have me thinking about it again. Because when the wind is 15 to 20 mph or more nobody's arm is strong enough alone to keep the whisker pole down. When the wind is really strong, I have just been leaving the pole strapped to the akas not using it at all. For me so far, it has been most useful when the wind is light to moderate and I want to squeeze all possible speed out of it.