Since a boomed staysail is intended to be self-tending, you cannot necessarily backwind it because the sheeting is setup so that the clew of the staysail will always be leeward. You would have to pull the clew to windward with something other than the sheet. With a loose-footed staysail you can haul in on the windward side sheet so it is truly backwinded. I cannot testify to the effectiveness for one being better than to other while hove-to. I don't imagine that the boat would make much headway with either type of staysail, so perhaps there would be a difference with where the boat is pointing. Just a guess.

This is an old topic but I thought I'd bring it back.  I believe Quimera originally had a boomed staysail.  It now is loose footed but self tending using a single sheet with a block at the clew.  (The way I got it)  It is a little interesting because one can sheet in or out from either side.  I just accepted this until I started reading about heaving to and realized I have a minor problem.  If I leave it as is I have to make a dedicated "heaving-to" line for it.  If I change I lose the self tending feature.  I single-hand most of the time. Thoughts?