26' mono to Hobie Cat...

[flyingwelshman]

My wife and I just booked a trip to Cozumel for March.

I want to dive my ass off, my wife wants to relax in the sun.

One of the features that attracted us to the hotel we chose was that they have catamarans available for guests to use.

We have been sailing up here in Georgian Bay for the last 3 years.
I feel very comfortable in my 26' Nash, and my wife has become excellent crew for me (she loves to handle the lines etc. but is very intimidated by the tiller)

I am looking forward to trying out a small catamaran. I see them out on the Bay here and they always seems as though they could run circles around me.

Anyhow, I would like some advice on some of the differences in technique etc. in sailing the smaller, faster boat. I mean I'm an old pro with exceptional skills (cough, cough) up here and don't want to come across as a spastic greenhorn in front of all of those bikini-clad witnesses down south.

Any pointers to help a fellow sailor out?

Thanks

[SecondWindNC]

They're a lot of fun, and I think for the most part you'll be fine. There are a few things that are slightly different, but they're easy to adapt to.

Probably the biggest one is tacking - small cats won't coast through the wind like a heavier monohull. Come into the wind a bit more gradually rather than throwing the helm over so you keep some momentum. And if you have a jib, keep it sheeted in until it backwinds to help push the bow around. Then turn it loose, sheet it in on the new tack, and you'll be back up to speed again in a heartbeat.

Also keep an eye on weight balance. Right when you're chugging along the fastest, if you have too too much weight forward, you can bury the bow and she will come to almost a stop - quick.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by flyingwelshman

One of the features that attracted us to the hotel we chose was that they have catamarans available for guests to use.

....... I mean I'm an old pro with exceptional skills (cough, cough) up here and don't want to come across as a spastic greenhorn in front of all of those bikini-clad witnesses down south.

Any pointers to help a fellow sailor out?

Thanks

Our son got married at a resort near Tulum that had these little cats, and as another "old pro, " I have to say I struggled with the thing trying to get it off the beach. In my defence it was a lee shore with a strong breeze, artificial reefs and a lot of swimmers/snorkelers about. Took me several tries (and a crash on one of those reefs - thankfully not coral) to get out.

Once clear of the beach (finally) though, it was a blast. These things go like crazy but tacking is very different from the mono as mentioned above. Ours had no vang, and you could considerably improve speed by using your foot on the mainsheet tackle to pull the boom down.. that was a lot of fun.

But I did manage to embarass myself initially..

[nickmerc]

I learned to sail on Hobie 16's. When I switched to mono hulls there were a few surprises. Like stated above tacking a beach cat can be a bear. Also, watch the leeward bow, especialy when reaching. If you stuff the bow the boat will stop suddenly. If it is windy enough to fly a hull I find for newbies it is best to use the main sheet to depower instead of pointing higher. The cats do not need a boom vang since the main travel is so long. The main sheet acts like a vang. If the cat does have a main traveler and it works well I find you get much better sail control using it rather than the sheet. You will also find that the apparent wind is always very close on the bows once you get going. It will seem like you are always sheeted all the way in.

Here is how I would tack my H16 and my H18.

1) Fall off slightly to get more boat speed.
2) Have the crew get into the center of the tramp and lay down to avoid being hit by the boom
3) Smoothly move the rudder to head up and through the wind. The rudder should not be deflected more than 45deg or you will stop the boat and get into irons.
4a) right before you turn through the wind, toss the tiller behind the boat and use the rudder crossbar to control the rudders. The main sheet will get in the way of the tiller extention.
4b) Get to the center of the tramp and duck while still holding the rudders
5) Keep the jib backwinded until the main battens "pop" across. You will know what I mean the first time you try it.
6) If solo or with non-contributing crew, sheet out the main about 12-18 inches, then tack the jib. If the crew is helping, do both at the same time.
7) As your speed increases trim sails as necessary.

If you blow the tack and get stuck in irons, you can still complete it.
1) sail the boat backwards fast enough so you get rudder athourity.
2) keep the jib backwinded, it will help push your bows around.
3) keep the main on the inteded leeward side, but make sure it is not sheeted in tight.
4) as soon as the boat can be truned off the wind do so and tack the jib.

General hints:
1) The main sail is what gives the boat most of its power. So, I usually set the jib for the point of sail and forget it until a tack or gybe.
2) Look at the hull shape on the beach. If the hulls have lots of rocker, when tacking keep your weight over the lowest point of of the hulls. It will help the boat turn better. If very little rocker or no rocker, keep your weight as far aft as possible since the boat will try to pivot around the rudders. Most resort cats do not have dagger boards.
3) Things happend much faster in cats. give yourself plenty of room until you get used to the boat.
4) Don't worry about capsizing. It's part of the fun. Remember, if it is windy enough to capsize it is windy enough for you to right the boat.


If you have any more questions, please feel free to PM. If you do, please tell me the type of cat so I can give you more specific info on how they sail.

Have fun!
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NASTYDOLL2

[NICHOLSON58]

I sail a 20 ft Tornado. Many of the same issues as noted above. The Hobie 16 is very prone to a lee bow diving in a good blow. This can cause the boat to pitch-pole forward. If you have a trapeze make sure you know how to get out quickly and that there is a stabilizing line to the stern so you are not launched from the bow if the boat plows into a wave and stops abruptly. This provides ample oportunity for those within camera range to record truely spectacular Funniest Home Videos.

[BarryL]

Hello,

I have sailed a few small cats in the hotel fleet. Note that, more than likely, the boat will be in poor condition and they won't let you take it out if it is windy. Typically, you can take the boat out in less than 10 kts, any more and they keep the boats on the beach. You can understand why, because most people can't sail worth a damn and will either get stuck or will break something.

Barry

[pdqaltair]

There are a number of very good ones.

I sailed small cats for many years. Other posters have given good tips. The biggest differences, to me:
* Less feel. They do not heel.
* When things go wrong, it is more sudden... but there are plenty of warnings if you listen.
* There is no keel, so you need to keep the boat moving.
* Sheet the main out a bit after tacking, until you are moving.
* your turning circle is greater.

Have fun.

[nickmerc]

I forgot to add a link to a great boat Catamaran Sailing: Start to Finish. This is a great guide for beach cats. It is based on the older glass boats but is still very relevant. You can read it in two nights.
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How to roll a joint

[pdqaltair]

Originally Posted by nickmerc

I forgot to add a link to a great boat Catamaran Sailing: Start to Finish. This is a great guide for beach cats. It is based on the older glass boats but is still very relevant. You can read it in two nights.

I learned the craft from that one 25 years ago. It is simple and copmlete.

[CrazyRu]

Originally Posted by pdqaltair

There are a number of very good ones.


* Sheet the main out a bit after tacking, until you are moving.

Have fun.

I raced beach cats for quite a while.

To help the boat get through the wind, it is better to let main sheet out just before the boat points into wind. Overwise, mainsail works as wind vane and prevents completing the turn.

flyingwelshman, watch out while doing jibe too. It can be very violent on catamaran
Steer downwind. Hold mainsheet between blocks, just grab all ropes and push the boom from one side to another. Don't wait until boom flies by itself, just make sure you are dead downwind and swing the boom around by hand...