I've sailed the same Hobie 16 for 24 years here in North Louisiana and up and down the Gulf Coast, with and without the jib—I consider jibless sailing essential for understanding the "flow dynamics" of the Hobie 16. In North Louisiana we do a whole of light air sailing, unfortunately, and extreme measures are necessary to get the damn thing to tack without a jib. But tack it will, and once you learn it, the H16 is actually faster-tacking without a jib, especially if you are single-handing:

In light air it is absolutely essential to blow both the traveler and the mainsheet right before going head-to-wind. After passing through head-to-wind the sail needs to be far out on the new leeward side—You will probably need to grab the boom and pull it toward you. This is far and away the most important point—When the boat slows down, you must keep the airflow attached to the sail!

Also, until the wind fills in on the new windward side of the sail and the boat begins to speed up again, the center of the skipper/crew's mass must stay on the old windward side, far aft on the trampoline. This is essentially the same thing as a Hobie 16 roll tack, only exaggerated—You're keeping the bows high in the air so that the boat can pivot on the rudders.

Finally, after passing head-to-wind, bear away farther to leeward than you normally would, then begin easing in the main and very gently pointing up as the wind begins to reattach to the sail and you gather headway.

Don't listen to the daggerboard weenies who say the H16 or H14 won't tack without a jib—I promise you they speak from ignorance.