Could be on to something here - rigging the jib for heavy weather by swapping the leech and luff. Helps keep the foot off the deck and being caught by waves, as well as taking the load off the sheet cars. The main hoisted without benefit of the boltrope or slides would also aid in depowering on those days when reefing is just too much work.
The s-bend in the spreaders is a nice touch too.
