downwind on the H16...

hi all, im kinda new to sailing a hobie cat and i was out earlier today, and whilst on a run, the jib doesnt stay in one position, its always switching sides, how can i fix this? if it involves more wind, im only 140 pounds...haha kinda light....
My hobie (keels over) is a hobie 15 ( i know this forum is for US hobies, but iv been told that the hobie 15 is similar to the 16).
Oh, and one other thing that i have noticed, when you are about to tack, the hiking stick is very long, how do you cross it to the other side without you getting in the way of the sail?
sorry for the questions, i am only 16 years old, and im kinda new to sailing the hobie, im just trying to fingure some things out
Thanks for any help!

Welcome to the world of sailing!

I've only got a year on you and we are in the same boat (no pun intended) as I'm pretty new to hobies also.

When sailing my friend's Hobie 16 when we initiated the tack and would start the move for the other hull we would just throw the hiking stick down on the mat, hop over it, and grab it agian and straighten it out.

As for the Jib. Well personally I dont like sailing straight down wind without at least a genoa or gennaker. It's more fun to sail at a slight angle then jibe. Be careful when jibeing though. I havent done it on my hobie (havent even gotten a chance to sail it yet...lol) but I imagine it's pretty scary in heavy wind so be careful.

When jibing be sure to controll the main sheet so the sail doesnt slam full force across the boat. Getting hit in the head with the boom is one thing, getting hit in the head by the boom under a full force jibe may (literally) crack your skull). It may also cause rigging failure.

CBFryman, i have jibed (sp?) the 15 in 13kts single-handed, i just bring the travel-car to the middle and pull in the sail to ease the force of the sail coming across....the 15 doesnt have a boom, its a rotating mast and the main has only battens, it does kind of freak me out going fast as im not used to it, i have tried to right it, but i cant do it alone.....im a 140LB 16 year old thats new to sailing although want to get into it more.....only problem is...if it capsizes and nobody notices, i could head out in the caribbean sea, so i always have someone watching me.
Thanks for the response!
-Jacques

Get a righting bag and solve the whole scared to sail solo thing!

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Nacra 5.2 "Elsies"
Hobie 14T, "Blazin" I guess I am keeping her!

Don’t go dead down wind. Put the main to one side and the jib to the other. Have the crew hold the jib by the clew to keep it out.

You’ll go faster if you stay on a beam or broad reach and the air will hold the sails in place.

I’m not sure of the configuration of a 15 but if the main traveler is in front of the tiller connector bar, flip the stick around the back of the boat when you tack.

Keep plugging away and you’ll be sailing like an old pro in a few years. Find some other multihull guys and ask lots of questions. Above all have fun!!

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yeah i could do that except im the only one who has a hobie cat that can be sailed right now.....regarding to the righting, if i had enough weight to get it up again, do you go in between the hulls or do you hold on and swing out with the top hull when it is coming back down?
By any chance, does anyone know where i could find info on the 15? because there's not much at the european site...
The hiking stick is a pain to move since during a tack, the end of it hits the outer-edge of the main..
Does anyone use msn or something like that?
if you do, you could add me: [email protected]
Thanks alot for the clarification guys!
-Jacques[/img]

Righting:
http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=1570

Grab the windward side of the dolphin striker as it comes over to prevent it from going over the other direction. Done that.