So a couple of weeks ago I posted on here that I was preparing to make my first run in the gulf (via Destin,FL). I had asked for some advice, which several fellow sailors thankfully posted. So, I only felt obliged to post the aftermath to my first trip in the Gulf.

Well, it starts out, I didn't make it into the Gulf. Not because we had a Tropical Depression whipping in and the surf looked a little daunting, but because I couldn't find any beach access to launch my boat! I even called the local Code Enforcement (who patrol the beaches and grant access) and they couldn't tell me where I could launch my boat. So, I decided to just launch it in Choctawhatchee Bay, which is just on the other side of the island. After getting the boat in the water, we had very good wind. In fact, it's probably some of the strongest winds I have ever sailed in. I was having a blast blazing across the water, until during a beam reach, the zipper on my jib completely disintegrated. I don't know if it had dry rotted over the years or what, but the zipper teeth completely vanished. Let me tell you, a jib that is not connected to the jib stay is pretty much useless (to me anyway). Trying to tack into the strongest winds I have ever sailed in, without a jib, proved pretty much impossible. I tried for about 45 minutes, then gave up. I sailed to the nearest shore and hitched a ride back to the landing...via land. Then I had someone tow my cat back to the landing. Not the outing I was hoping for, but VERY thankful I was not in the Gulf!

So, a question I have is...is it possible to tack my cat without a jib sail?

Thankful, I'm not posting from Havanna!!!!!

Pretty basic manuver that works from a stopped position.
Decide which direction you want to go and push the boom and tillers that direction and the boat will back up, center the tiller and sheet in SLOW, too quick on the sheet and the boat will round up into the wind. Careful when performing this...all your weight will be near the transom, in big wind and chop you can get air under of trampoline. On the Hobie 14 a backwards body slam is sometimes necessary to keep the boat upright.

Big air always points out the weaknesses of my boat! Glad your adventure ended with no human damage

I was sailing a rental Hobie 16 on a cruise once and both of the pieces that lock down the rudders broke. With both rudders kicked up, it was impossible to tack the boat. Ended up having to do 270 degree jibes to get back to the beach.

I find both tacking and gybing rather hard without rudders

what about gybing it through 270 degrees?

With the rudders not locking down I couldn't keep the momentum to tack. So to "tack" we just headed off, gybed, and pointed back upwind.. resulting in a 270+ degree circle. Had I known then what I know now, I would have just stalled out and sailed backwards to tack, but this was a long time ago.

Uni beachcats require good timing and technique to tack in big winds with heavy surf. Speed, initiating the turn as you approach the crest of a wave, and dropping the main sheet the moment the main starts to point to weather. We also move towards the rear beam to lift the bows and help rotate the hulls around but move quickly forward once around to help the boat accelerate and not stall and weather vane.

Forget a smooth turn, you want to make it as quickly as possible without killing your speed. If you get caught and start moving backwards, you can reverse the rudders but be careful and be ready to release the main some once she comes around so that you can bare off, get under way, and then start to head up.