for reversing 1st loosen the traveller

then grab the boom with 1 hand

and the rudder with the other and push BOTH in the direction you want to go

when the boat has backed round fully to the direction you want to go the pressure on the sail/boom will stop as the wind is now balanced across both sides

when that happens, let go of both and the boat will be dead in the water but pointing on the new tack

next, center the rudders and SLOWLY pull the traveller back about half way until you have some forward speed, now you can steer off a bit to build up even more speed

with good forward speed pull in the traveller the rest of the way to center and then steer back up again if wanted

practice this a couple of times, in each direction, every time you go out until it becomes 2nd nature

so you won't have to think about it when the sh't hits the fan

yesterday went out with a new hobie 16 owner and took him through a few backing drills after seeing him and his mate stuck in irons for a LONG time in a big wind the day before

as it was windy they had the traveller out but were trying to do SLOW 180degree tacks from reach to reach without bringing the traveller back to center or even point up

the result was predictably that they went into irons every time and the new owner was hating the boat