Gybe Ho!
Frank,
Long time no talk!
The safest way to gybe these things (without snuffing) is the way you describe (the long way around).
With 2 sheets attached, just ease the old sheet all the way out as you swing the stern through the wind. Just as the sail is almost pointing downwind, start hauling on the new sheet! The key advantage of doing it this way instead of between the headstay and the luff of the sail is that you don't need as much strength to horse it through and around, and you don't have to worry ab out it being trimmed in too far when it re-fills-which can cause a round up or excessive heeling.
If very shorthanded (or lazy), snuff it first, then walk it around in front of the headstay-and remember to walk the double ended snuffer "halyard" to the other side as well. Either re-lead the sheet (if you only have one), or make sure the new sheet is loaded around a winch and ready to go, and hoist away.
A word of caution for some boats: If you are using a true spinnaker halyard which exits above the headsail halyards this is no big deal and you can snuff it on the "new" side with no worries. On the other hand, if you were using a halyard which exits from the same height as your primary halyard (for the furler), then you will want to run the snuffed sail back around the headstay to the side you launched from before lowering. This is to avoid either wrapping the spin halyard around the sail, headstay, or both-this can be a mess-so look aloft and keep track of where you are.
The reason you don't tack with sails like these is that they are not "upwind" sails. Most of them will sail up to maybe 65-75 degrees to the true wind (apparent angle will vary, but is not as relevant), so your windward progress will be similar to the Clipper Ships of days gobe by. If you are really going uphill, use a headsail or the iron genny!
Ladies and Gentlemen, "let's be careful out there"
S