Sort of like learning the snow plow first and then learning to parallel ski.

Personally, I would learn the roll tack first and do the right way and not develop bad habits. Biggest problem I have in teaching my seminars is trying to get sailors to unlearn bad habits.

The old way had folks backwinding the jibs. That just stops the boat and makes it back up. You will forever be taking close to 30 seconds to tack from high speed to high speed and that equates to around a boat length per second.

Sailing the jib through (as in the roll tack) allows the boat to keep moving and develops more power through the turn. And the tacks can executed in less that 4 seconds. Big difference.

It is not even very complicated. Good way to learn the cat is getting Total Boat Handling Video here on this site. It covers the roll tack in a generic way, among other important facets of cat sailing. For more in depth stuff the other videos are also available, including the Roll Tack Video.

Have fun and Good Luck,

Rick