Ok, I'll say it. How about reefing the main?

The one and only time I reefed the main was for the afternoon races at regatta with reported gusts up to 50mph, and it worked very well. You know it's some serious wind if some people actually race with reefed mains or furled jibs.

I was trapped and steering only, power was controlled by my wife with the jib sheet, sawing in and out with the gusts. Never capsized...after we reefed the main