You think the 16 is hard to tack, try the 14 unirigged. I usually sail with the jib at least and even a hooter sometimes. But from time to time for quick set up I use just the main. After a summer of sailing the little beast I have finally figured it out.

First of all you have to make sure that you have lots of speed. Without the jib you can really get going upwind closehauled. And as has already been suggested make sure to be gentle with the rudders. If you turn to hard you are doing more braking than turning. Also you have to figure when to change sides.

The assymetrical hulls are hard to tack that is all there is to it. But once you learn to do it, it does nothing but get easier.