if you don't ease then you will just slip sideways and stall. It is SUPER slow. point is irrelevant in this situation. also it's not like you leave it like that the whole race. it's a quick motion.
Ease hike trim works for 420s, but in FJ's it's very beneficial to ease the jib in big breeze, not so much so that it luffs, but just a little ease. Keeping the boat flat will actually help the pointing, you can really tell for crews who don't ease the jib in puffs that the boat just heels more and side slips. Plus, easing and trimming gives the skipper more to drive up against, which helps with pointing. It's definitely very effective in the big puffs to coordinate main and jib, but in the smaller puffs, ease the jib first.
Very true. I think the footage is a bit overly aggressive at times but the technique is very crucial. In big breeze balance is very important and having the skipper and crew both easing and trimming together is super fast. If only the main is eased, the slot closes up and this causes the boat to heel drastically, and stay this way until the puff subsides or this jib is finally eased. 1-2 inches of ease as the puff hits allows the boat to accelerate through the puff without heeling much more than the boat already was.
As for the jib trim technique: "It's all in the wrist."
I think if you ease earlier and ease less you will actually find the boat takes more advantage of the velocity lift, and you don't get the hard heel to windward at the end. Easing as the puff approaches/hits, 1-2 inches on the jib sheet (instead of 5-6), with a gradual trim in should show better results than what you see here; the boat will stay flatter, and will be able to creep to windward, instead of having the bow pulled down because the jib is in too tight at the beginning of the puff. A quick reaction is crucial. Reacting in the middle of the puff is too late and not fast.
It's essential to luff your jib w/ you main in an FJ because it minimizes the disturbance or "bubble" that you get in the main. Still ease the main... but ease it less, and ease the jib.
As it is pointed out in the video, really only necessary in heavy winds
Is it really beneficial when in a race? You would lose so much point by luffing like that. When over powered I think the best thing to do is E.H.T You ease your main a little hike it flat and when your flat trim it back in.
Jib Luffing
As for the jib trim technique: "It's all in the wrist."
As it is pointed out in the video, really only necessary in heavy winds