Learn Without The Jib?

There's not much of a sailing contingent in my area, I live near a couple huge lakes though. The attidude of most guys around here is that a boat without rod holders is a waste of fiberglass... (Cretins!)

So having said that, I'll likely be teaching myself. I have some basic sailing experience from a few years of landsailing (I own 2 landsailers) and about a dozen hours or so on rental Hobies and Sunfish over the years.

The main question is, can I sail without the jib for awhile? I know from reading here that I would lose turning performance and speed but as a complete novice, what do you recommend? Can I have fun without the jib?

Thanks!

Oh, I have an '84 H16!

_________________
'81 H16 yellow hulls

Short answer - Not really

The jib is vital to allowing the 16 to tack. It is left cleated through the tack, backwinding it and providing the added "Push" to get the bows through the wind. Without it you will end up in irons unable to tack.

Find someone in the area (this is a great place to do that) that will go with you and help you out

_________________
1985 Prindle 16

The jib also tensions the rig. Without it, I would think there would be a ton of slop in the shrouds.

_________________
'88 Nationals Blue
Hobie Alter Signature Model
Sail #11

Hobie Mirage Classic

Ok, so is there any setting that I can leave it pretty much alone or with little attention while I / we learn?

_________________
'81 H16 yellow hulls

When we got our H-16, my wife was adamant that we not raise the jib since I only had sloop rigged boat experience. It took 4 outings before she felt comfortable enough to put the jib up. We saw first hand how easy it was to tack the boat once we had the jib up.
Good luck!

_________________
Eric Weller
2006 F18 Capricorn
1980 H16
Keep the pointy side up!

Greetings from up here in Anderson, SC. I can give you some input on this from 1st hand exp. I did not use the jib on my first voyage (teaching myself) & had no trouble tacking. The first trip was in about 8mph winds. I found that the jib really wants 5mph+ wind to function properly (at least mine does). By design, the jib battens will brush against the mast when you tack / gybe. If you don't have enough wind (such as when you are learning in a near calm) the jib will get stuck on the mast & cause some aggrivation. Honestly, I doubt you are going to have an ounce of trouble w. the prior sailing exp. Get familiar w/ the rigging & have someone there to help you step the mast while learning. I would not suggest more than 1 rod holder. With more than 1, your plugs are going to get all twisted up when you tack .

_________________
Anderson, SC
1987 Hobie 16
Learning to sail.

Crieke - I've never tried sailing our H16 without the jib as Eric and Annacat have while learning to sail the H16. They've done it, so it can be done. I think another way, possibly even better, would be to set the boat up with the jib but don't sheet it in tight until you're ready to tack. The same goes for the main. Until you're more comfortable sailing your boat, sheet both the main and jib out until you're ready to tack. Then sheet both in to gain speed - just for a few seconds. When you're going through the wind, pop the main. Once you get through the tack, pop the jib. Then sheet both in a little to get going in your new direction.
Until you're more experienced and comfortable with your boat you can sheet out, travel out, and point a little higher to keep the speed down and control the boat.
Learn to sail the correct way, but please don't ever get out of your comfort zone.
Drummer63 gave you good advice. It's always best to find someone in your area that will go with you and help you out.
Enjoy your boat and be safe!
Richard