You take a piece of string and tie it 1-2 feet above the main top
block on the wire of the back stay and wrap rigging tape around the
wire just below it a bunch of times so it does not slip down the
wire. Then you run the string through the stern cleats on either side
up to the traveler cleats on either side. Tie the string to those
horseshoe shaped pieces of metal on top of the traveler cam cleats.
Now when you do this make sure that the backstay is at the light air
setting as not to effect the tension of the backstay or the string.
It should be snug. After tacking the helmsman eases out the main
sheet out a foot (in the sheet or traveler) and yanks the windward
string at the same time. This whips the backstay to windward as the
main drops to leeward. This keeps the crew from jumping on the stern
and allows the helmsman to be minimally distracted.