Considering my first multihull experience

Harvester · #1 (**permalink**) 10-17-2008

Hello my friends in Sailnet!

I'm starting to prepare a week sailing vacation next spring. Bareboat charter with a few friends. Final destination to be decided soon (most probably Croatia).

For comfort reasons my vacation mates prefer a catamaran. And I like the idea, so I can take the advantage of the opportunity to try a multihull sailing for the first time.

All I know about catamarans is that they don't lean. So in case of high winds I guess you have to a) reef early; and b) be always ready to release main traveler and/or sheet.

I don't want to do something crazy (like Giu’s going offshore with his tube, his ring and his line

). So I have a first question to those of you that have experience with both monohulls and catamarans: Is a reasonable monohull sailing experience enough to adventure with a Catamaran for the first time? Or do you think that it requires different skills than sailing on a multihull so I should rather practice on catamarans before taking the responsibility over one?

Any advice in this regard is welcome!

Thanks!

Giulietta · #2 (**permalink**) 10-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harvester

Or do you think that it requires different skills than sailing on a multihull so I should rather practice on catamarans before taking the responsibility over one?

Main skill...start and stop engines....

FarCry · #3 (**permalink**) 10-17-2008

Giu makes two good points. I wish to add other witnessed very common stratagies on charter cats around the BVIs.
Raise all sails on a reach so that the main gets tangled up on the lazy jacks. Leave sheets loose and motor directly into the wind so that everything flogs violently until you reach your destination.
When you arrive, sail on a nice reach and try to lower the main and roll the jib furler.
Enter your mooring field or anchorage at maximum boat speed as close to other boats and swimmers as is possible.
Try to come in with the wind on your stern to catch a mooring ball.
Come in with the wind on your stern to drop the anchor (scope of 1.5-1) and then either do not back down to set it, or back down into the wind.
Immediately jump on the dinghy and race to shore for cocktails.
Laugh at the crazy people trying to fend off your cat as it drags its anchor.

Once you have these "new" skills mastered you should be set.

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 10-17-2008

Ignore the two leadmine trolls...

Yes, you should be okay, provided you realize that the catamaran will handle a bit differently, and will tend to be slow through the tacks and you may have to backwind the jib to get the boat through the eye of the wind. Easing the mainsheet during the tack also helps. Keep the boat speed up and turn gradually to tack. if you are going too slow or turn the boat too quickly, it'll stall and fail to make it through the eye of the wind.

Reef for the gusts, not the average wind speeds...multis, especially cats, can't bleed off the excess wind during a gust like a monohull does through heeling.

Harvester · #5 (**permalink**) 10-18-2008

Thnaks al lot, SD!

(And great to assess thar there are also some sane folks here too!)

sailingdog · #6 (**permalink**) 10-18-2008

If you're including me in the "sane" category, you're probably wrong...after all I sail a boat with training hulls.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harvester

Thnaks al lot, SD!

(And great to assess thar there are also some sane folks here too!)

chucklesR · #7 (**permalink**) 10-18-2008

Croatia is reportedly nice sailing for catamaran's.
Reasonably competent skippers who understand sailing principles for monohulls can adapt to catamaran differences if they have patience and try.

Idiot skippers on the other hand just like to make fun of them out of jealousy of our speed and comfort.

Harvester · #8 (**permalink**) 10-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucklesR

Croatia is reportedly nice sailing for catamaran's.
Reasonably competent skippers who understand sailing principles for monohulls can adapt to catamaran differences if they have patience and try.

Idiot skippers on the other hand just like to make fun of them out of jealousy of our speed and comfort.

Thanks Chuckles. Precisely what I want is to prevent my friends from going through a "patience and try" experience. So I'll see if I have the chance to practice a bit on my onw first.

Yeahhh. Some seem to need a few sessions with Dr. Phill...