Single rider sailing advice needed

We own a 2007 Hobie Getaway and I've been sailing it single handed on our lake for at the past two years. I only weight about 150 lbs so I'm having a lot of trouble controlling it in medium to heavy winds. I just don't have enough weight to keep it from going over, and I'm super nervous about sailing it now. Its hard to right as well when I'm alone, almost impossible.

Is there a method or technique I can use to improve my sailing and improve my confidence? I wondering about sailing without a jib sail to reduce speed, but I'm not sure how'd I'd turn it as the jib is required to pull the boat around. Is there anything else I should be doing?

Thanks
Josh

I'm not familiar with the sail trim on a Getaway but in general you want to flatten a sail to depower it in heavy air. A full sail will catch the wind like a parachute and pull you over in a sudden way, but a flatter sail will give you propulsion while being more stable. This is done with outhaul, downhaul and batten tension.

Are you adjusting the outhaul and downhaul for heavy air? And is the wind you have very gusty or steady?

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'00 H16 #104691
'78 H16 #32692 ex-rental [gone]
Old Holsclaw trailer
My Hobie 16 pages

You can definitely sail without the jib. I've already tried furling my jib on my T2 in heavier wind and it depowered the boat nicely. I also sailed a 14 for the previous 3 years that didn't have a jib. Yes, it is definitely harder to tack but it is also very doable. Practice in lighter wind without the jib. Also, if you don't make the tack and get stuck in irons, you can reverse the rudder. As the boat goes backwards in irons the reversed rudder will bring the bow through the wind. It's not the cleanest, but it works well. I'm sure someone with more experience can give you some additional tips too.

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2014 T2
past: 1974 H14

Yes, you can sail without the jib, and you can tack. It takes a bit more finesse, though. I sailed H-17s for years, with no jib, so got pretty smooth at tacking.
You might also look at adding reef points to your sail to depower it. There is a thread for reefing sails in the Getaway forum. I had reef points added last winter, because I sail with little granddaughters and my daughter might be irritated if I lost one or two of them.
I had it done at North Sails in Zenda, WI; I think it cost about $100. I haven't tried reefing it yet, though.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Icebirds" - 1974 Skeeter iceboat
Too many canoes and kayaks

Even with all the above, I think you should find a way to right the boat solo unless you are confident there will always be help from other boaters.

"Single Handing"

There are several things you can do to depower the mainsail and prevent capsize on the Getaway:

1. Start with an aft rake on the mast: putting the shroud adjusters in the lower holes will rake the mast back, depower the main, make the boat point higher, and make it easier to tack.

2. Use the 5 hole clew block (where the mainsheet attaches) on the main to your advantage: The holes further aft pull DOWN on the sail and close the leach which powers UP the sail. The holes further forward pull OUT on the foot of the main, open the leach, and power DOWN the sail. The only time I ever capsized a Getaway was with a sail that didn't have a 5 hole clew block. Those 5 holes are close together, but it's amazing what a difference a few inches make...

3. Don't cleat your mainsheet if you can help it, this will help you react faster to puffs and shifts.

4. Use your traveler to travel down in heavy air to depower.

5. Keep your weight back and your bows up when going fast to avoid a "pitchover" (not a pitchpole and not a tip over capsize...).

What MITBeta said.... in strong or gusty winds:

1. let your traveler out 6" to 10", or more (gives you more control)
2. do NOT cleat the mainsheet
and
3. be aware of the 'balance' of the boat. Cats are sensitive to boat trim, that is the inboard/outboard seating position, and the fore/aft location of your body. Further back and further out means a higher righting moment and less chance of a capsize.

4. if you do get caught in a blow while running, turn DOWNWIND and sheet in. Sounds counter intuitive, I know. This means that you are presenting less sail area and therefore less pressure which causes capsizes. Upwind, you can feather and pinch.

Are there any other Getaway sailors near you? Ask about their experiences.....Hobie folks love to share stories......

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2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

Oh, I just saw your weight. Yeah, you probably need a righting bag. My neighbor who is pretty slender, uses an army duffel bag rolled up and lashed to his tramp. When he goes over, he gets the boat ready to right (sheets loose, turned into the wind), gets the bag, puts it over his shoulder, and submerges enough to fill it up. He stands up on the hull and leans back against the righting line to bring 'er back on her feet.
I'm not slender - about 200#. I have no problem righting the boat.

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Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Icebirds" - 1974 Skeeter iceboat
Too many canoes and kayaks

Wow, thanks for all the responses.
Going to pull the boat out of the garage this weekend, i'll definitely use some of the advice and let you know how it goes.

Yes at your weight and experience,- you need a righting bucket or a power pole. I sail almost exclusively solo. I've soloed H16, H17Sport, Getaway, H14Turbo, Wave and Bravo. The most important thing in solo sailing is SELF RESCUE. If you can't do it, you shouldn't be soloing PERIOD. And that also means being able to un-turtle then right the boat you are sailing alone.

you have done all what it should be, so that there is nothing else you should do.Good Job

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Graduated from Soran University with First Class Degree with Honours in Computer Science.

Im surprised no one mentioned adding a trapeze, get out on the wings and fly like a bird!