The only issue I had was; when coming about a couple times when it was really blowing the jib got twisted around the forward stay and it was pretty violent. I am not sure how this happened because both jib sheets were cleated. I had to go forward to unravel it, which single handing in these winds was sketchy as hell. It took nearly 5 minutes and it was very violent. The last issue I had was while I was unraveling it from the stay the jib sheets twisted up together and I had to completely untwist them.
I am not sure how to avoid all of this. The only thing that I could imagine that I could have possibly done wrong is that I didn't pull the sheet in quick enough while coming about and I let it flap/slack too much and it the jib went forward of the forward stay and wrapped. Once I started pulling it in faster it didn't happen anymore. But I am not sure if it could have been something else. Also, I am not sure if it only happened when coming about thru/into the eye or visa-versa.
Anyway, all-in-all it was a success. All except for getting whipped across the face several times while untwisting the jib sheets while forward in 30 knot gusty winds with full mainsheet and no-one at the helm. ;-)
To elaborate on my previous post, close your eyes and picutre yourself in this scenario...
Say you are going east, and the wind is coming out of the south. Now pitcure you want to turn around 180 degrees and go west. In this scenario you should always turn to starboard, (right) swinging the bow of the boat through the wind. This is called a tack. Doing this will allow the mainsail to slowly swing from port to starboard as you make your turn, and the loose jib will want to blow on-board and aft rather than going forward as you describe. Everything will happen in a generaly controlled manner, and the wind will help blow the jib across the deck to a new set on your new heading.
Now in this same situation, (you are going east, wind is out of the south) and you want to go west, what happens if you turn to port, (left)? Bad things usually happen unless you are well prepared.... First off, the boat will slow down slightly as you start the turn. The next thing that might happen is the wind will meet the main sail at a point where it is blowing straight down the boom, but from the back of the boat, (aft)... As soon as the wind starts blowing on the port side of the mainsail the boom will SLAM across the cockpit, often very violently.... ( I have broken mainsheet tackle on a beach cat when forced to jibe when the boat would not tack). When you release your jib, with the bow of the boat now pointed downwind, the jib will want to fly out in front of the boat, rather than back towards the mast... It will flog violently often wrapping the sail and the sheets around the forestay... During all of this you will look around, (if not in a frantic panic to regain control) and see that your mast is still wiggling from the boom flying over the cockpit and you will hear the standing rigging pulling and tugging on the boat quite audibly.
This second dramatic course-change option I described is an uncontrolled jibe. Your description above has several clues that tell me you are turning downwind to change directions rather than upwind; i.e you are using a jibe rather than a tack..
It is possible to perform a controlled jibe, but it takes planning well in advance. One generally needs to haul in on the main and center the traveller to minimize the distance the main and boom will "pop" when the wind shifts sides with respect to the main. During this time you will be subject to the heel you came here with...
You also generally will not release the jib, rather letting it start to backwind inside the fore-triangle, (the place between your forestay and your boom) releassing the port jib sheet well after the turn has initiated. This prevents the jib from blowing forward as you describe.
If my assumptions are correct, once you get into the habit of tacking rather than jibing I think you will find you have gained a huge degree of control over the boat.
Hopefully this insight is valuable!
Phil
