Many cogent thoughts here. Increasing the 'righting moment' is another way to talk about heeling. Decreasing weight aloft and increasing weight below are two ways to address heeling, one of which have been mentioned. I put my VHF antenna on the cockpit to reduce weight aloft. Removed the steaming light, shortened the spreaders also for weight reduction and other reasons. Added lead to bottom of CB and so many other things to reduce heeling and increase speed, I can't remember them. Never have developed a reefing that I use enough to remember how to do it. So if the wind is overpowering me I just drop sail and fire up the 50D. I know my X is faster than most Xs in a sailing race and now that I have proven this to myself I have mostly quit trying to improve her performance. She is 23 years old now and I sail all year looping UT, CA & LA presently on Pontchartrain.
I like the boat to heel, that's what I like about sailing, so I leave non-heelers home, if possible, and sail unballasted if the wind is right. I don't advise others to sail un-ballasted. Surely, those who don't like heeling should not do it.
I guess the best suggestion to reduce heeling on the X is: 1. leave the sails home. 2. Remove the mast and leave it home.
