Sliding down a backstay was a much quicker way of getting down from wherever you were on the mast than climbing back down the ratlines, if you had the nerve for it. Another short-cut was to run out along the top of the yard (the spar that the sail is fixed to) instead of climbing out with your feet on the footrope and your hands holding the yard, The only problem was that the whole thing would be ging up and down, side to side, backwards and forwards, and round and round - all at the same time, at different rates!

There must be some real sailors out there who can contribute?

Steve