Reading tales
I have the same set-up - loose-footed main, 4 full length battens. Mine is a masthead rig - I assume yours is too. I've had best results doing things in this order on a close reach: Set the traveler (to get the boom on center) as appropriate for conditions (moderate to heavy air, lower (closer to amidships); light or very heavy conditions, higher. Get the two lower tell-tales streaming well first (with the trav), then worry about the uppers. No read on the uppers is really valid until you have the foresail trimmed well. Now set the uppers using the mainsheet - if they are tucking back in behind the sail, ease it some. It is most difficult to get the top one streaming, and if the wind is really up and the foresail is pulling strongly, the top one (or sometimes two) aren't that important on a masthead boat - if they are flicking and the boat feels fast and balanced, somethimes that's the best you can do. You can investigate outhaul tension and cunningham settings, but they won't have a lot of effect on tell-tale performance. In my opinion most mainsails are supplied with top battens that are too stiff - make a couple of more flexible battens to replace the top two for light air days, and you will be pleasantly suprised at the improved sail shape. When the sails are well trimmed the boat should have a nice light responsive feel with minimal helm pressure necessary to keep her on course - if you are carrying much more than about 5 degrees of helm offset, or if it feels heavy, then no matter what your tell-tales say, the boat is not balanced. When we tack I ease the outhaul a little (for acceleration), set the traveler by the lower tales, check the uppers and adjust the mainsheet as necessary (because by that time the headsail trimmer has the genoa where it should be,) then tighten the outhaul as appropriate when speed builds back up. That can all be done in less time than it takes to say it.
