Oh, wow. You just blew my mind. I think we discovered the root cause of all my issues. The boat was improperly rigged at the dealer and I didn't notice until now.
This is how it should be rigged --
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HzGGfYRSfTfPQ4XVA. (from the hobie rigging video)
and this is how mine was rigged:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/nXqYUGrRC5ug6gKG9The forestay adjuster was connected to the hole in the sail where the jib luff tensioning line should be connected, instead of actually being connected to the forestay. Interestingly the hobie video also shows the forestay connected to the forestay adjsuter with a clevis pin rather than a shackle.
I suspect this was the root cause of my previous rig tension issues. It makes perfect sense in retrospect, but I had never seen a getaway rigged before (or seen a getaway before).
Interestingly, this youtube video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=733z8c7EUJ8&t=24s -- also seems to have it connected in the same way I had it.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Abcrd963sS7BpENL9. the front shackle that connects to the forestay adjusted seems to be connected through the
I suppose the good news is that it should still be sailable if I rig it properly, I just won't be able to tension the jib fully and hopefully the connection between the mast and the ball isn't damaged.
Here I re-arranged things -
https://photos.app.goo.gl/unBWZqQ7x7hkbcu67.