I have recently fitted a Winchard boom brake in the hope that it might make saling down wind a bit safer. I went out last week in 19knts apparent and tried a few gybes. It was rigged on maxmuim friction. We had one reef in the mainsail. The product was totaly useless for my 41 footer. A wasted £100.

Does anybody else have any experence of products that work in the real world?

We have used a Dutchman for 6 years and have been very satisfied with it. It was a lot more expensive though.