Upwind what do people adjust when moving from a say 5mph gust into a small hole with nearly no wind? Presuming this hole will last for potentially the next 10-15 minutes are there further adjustments to be made. I am generally a fan of just freeing the jib (and maybe kicker) a little and keeping my head out the boat until some wind arrives but see quite a few others fiddling around. What are you all upto?

Some cynics might say 'body movements'!!! The fiddling aroung bit has nothing to do with sailing!!!!

10 to 15 minutes with nearly no wind, I guess they are fiddling with things out of boredom. Often I'll sponge out the bottom of the boat. Then maybe take a drink or a snack

Since our club water is a puddle surrounded by pine clad hills we get used to no wind. The answer is sit forward and sit still. Every crew movement slows the boat so don't bail, fiddle or anything.. 
Of course silver tiller sailors can do their usual pumping but it isn't popular with others!

I guess the point I am making is do people bother putting bend into the mast to flatten the main for holes or not? I am not used to having a deck stepped mast. Used to pull the mast forward at deck level in the lark if it was a prolonged hole but just sit tight and free jib a little if not a prolonged hole. If people do put bend in - how do they do it? This is not a query about pumping.

Weight forward and down in bottom of boat to create less resistance,
And i ease the sails let the kicker off, and pull the cunningham on gently to flatten the sails (have one on jib) and open the leach, and letoff in the thermal pufs and back on again after, works well.

Pardon the pun, but cunning use of the cunningham. Without the Kicker and eased sails mast bend would be impossible, except of course the cunningham can do it for you, also moves the draft of the sail back so there is a narrower angle of attack.

Now I'm can wait for some light stuff to try the theory.

Or bang on the puller if it's really light, let off the lowers and pull on some rig tension.  That'll give you pre bend.  Probably better than pulling the draught of the sail forward with the cunningham.  Ease the kicker/jib/main, drop the kite and enjoy!?

Thanks guys.

Got that wrong then didn't I, yes the draft goes forward not backwards, increasing the angle of attack, not decreasing it. Damm

You beat me to it Alan; pulling excessive cunningham will make the entry rounder and pull the draft forward - not what you want.  However, as our correspondant says 'gentle' cunningham may or may not help, according to the age and fabric of the sails....

Reverting to Mark's question; in addition to kicker and mainsheet off and jib eased, I would ensure lowers were right off, and consider the following:
Pull on the shroud tension to flatten the middle of the sail.  
If it is that light, I would put a bit of rake on to help ease the exit from the sail.
Out haul pretty much full on.
Small amount of leeward heel.

All the above to ne reversed as soon as enough breeze to be able to sail the boat flat.

Good to see you sailing at HISC, Mark, and hope you enjoyed it.  There was some unusual competiiton there as well - sorry that Glenn and Richard were not able to come and play with the new faces.  Next time.

GGGGGGGGG

Yes - I thoroughly enjoyed Hayling. Good racing. I expect one of the new faces, Roger, to be very quick once he gets a boat... Thanks for the replies.