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[quote=rattlenhum][quote=bradinjax]One trick is to hold off uncleating the jib during the tack and actually "backwinding" it until you are 100% certain you are completely through the wind. The backwinded jib will help pull the front of the boat through the wind.[/quote]

In my opinion, there is absolutely no need to backwind the jib in order to tack a Hobie 16.  It's a crutch...I would recommend that a novice sailor avoid it entirely and instead work on proper technique right from the start.  Granted, it's not the easiest thing to do, but, with proper steering, weight placement, and timely easing/hardening of the sheets, the boat can be sailed right through the tack without backwinding which slows/stops it.

waiex191: I took your original post as asking which of the two one should work on first...hull flying or trapezing....so I limited my earlier comments to those two.  For all things boat handling on a simpler rig like the H16, I'd recommend you get your hands on a copy of Catamaran Racing for the 90's (out of print) by Rick White (RIP, Rick).  It is somewhat dated, but not a lot has changed on the smaller beachcats.  It does cover racing (and a lot of the rules stuff has changed), but much of it is dedicated to boat tuning and handling.....upwind, downwind, speeding up, slowing down, stopping, backing up, jibing, and tacking...including a sermon against backwinding the jib.  The Joyrider TV vids are truly inspirational, and the internet forums can be helpful, but the info in that book is from a world class national champion sailor and is priceless.<em>Edited by rattlenhum on Aug 16, 2021 - 08:22 AM.</em> [/quote]

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