rattle 'n hum wrote:
This subject comes up often, and I usually bite my tongue, but......
With proper technique, you do not have to backwind the jib to come about on a Hobie 16!
Keys are...
Max speed (close hauled, sheeted appropriately) righ up until begin of turn.
Smooth turn with increasing pressure on rudders. Don't let them straighten until you are through the turn (which can be difficult while switching hiking stick over).
Cut both sheets when head to wind, and let the main go out a couple of feet. (Even sticky blocks/sheet will cause the main to stay too far centered weathervaning you into irons).
Keep skipper weight back and aft on "old" side as long as needed to help the bows pivot. (In lighter air you can literally stay on the "old" side until fully sheeted and going forward again before changing sides. Doing so in heavy air is not advised!
Once through the turn, sheet in jib first to keep bow off wind. Otherwise, that huge main will weathervane ya'!
Read up on Rick White's Roll Tack for cats.
Backwinding the jib, while effective at pushing the bow around, virtually kills what little forward progress you have, making it harder to get going again once the turn is completed. Also, you will give up precious ground if trying to round a mark, obstacle, etc. All you backwinders....give it a try.....you can do it with parctice!
The only thing I might add to this... Which you addressed.... and is covered in the Rick White roll tack section...
If you stay on the "old" leeward side as long as possible throwing the Tiller extension around isn't near as much of a problem as if you are heading over before the tack is complete... If you stay on the "new" leeward side until the main battens pop or just a hair longer you will have no problem steering as you won't have to switch hands or do anything extra with the tiller until after the boat is headed and moving forward on the new tack... and a bobble or slight "opps" as you grab the tiller and move across to the new windward side doesn't cost you near as much as if you were to be less smooth while the boat is head to wind...
That tip right there improved my tacking more than any other aspect of my tacking process has this year... The crew can completely bungle. botch, or otherwise not follow instructions and I can still make nearly any tack with speed... Even solo with the jib backwinded, (effectually a brake) I can still carry decent speed (relatively speaking) in most conditions...