Calling all Catalina 275 owners

Aug 3, 2020
1
Catalina 275 Sport Flag Harbor Marina
Just wanted to say how glad I am to find this forum. Thought I was the only one who discovered this fine boat. I've owned hull #20 for nearly 5 years, purchased as a demo from the Catalina dealer in Annapolis. I've been sailing with it on the Chesapeake south of Annapolis -- out of Herrington Harbor and now Flag Harbor -- ever since. Only 84 hours on the engine after 5 seasons but sail 12-20 times per year. I do not have a spinnaker and do not race. I bought the boat as far superior platform for my wife, son, and his gaggle of friends on which to daysail vs. my Compac 23. I've read a number of comments about how the 275 is not fast. Let me say that compared to my Compac 23 it is a lighting bolt!

Once my son gets old enough to help me handle the spin I'll probably buy one and try to explore the outer limits of speed on the boat. Meanwhile, we're quite content to zip across the Bay to the James Islands, anchor, swim, snack, listen to music, and sail back. I get some good father/son groups aboard sometimes, as indicated by the one pic I've attached.

Hope to run into some of you sometime.
 

Attachments

Jul 24, 2018
34
Catalina 275 36 Sydney Harbour
Just wanted to say how glad I am to find this forum. Thought I was the only one who discovered this fine boat. I've owned hull #20 for nearly 5 years, purchased as a demo from the Catalina dealer in Annapolis. I've been sailing with it on the Chesapeake south of Annapolis -- out of Herrington Harbor and now Flag Harbor -- ever since. Only 84 hours on the engine after 5 seasons but sail 12-20 times per year. I do not have a spinnaker and do not race. I bought the boat as far superior platform for my wife, son, and his gaggle of friends on which to daysail vs. my Compac 23. I've read a number of comments about how the 275 is not fast. Let me say that compared to my Compac 23 it is a lighting bolt!

Once my son gets old enough to help me handle the spin I'll probably buy one and try to explore the outer limits of speed on the boat. Meanwhile, we're quite content to zip across the Bay to the James Islands, anchor, swim, snack, listen to music, and sail back. I get some good father/son groups aboard sometimes, as indicated by the one pic I've attached.

Hope to run into some of you sometime.
Finally someone else using this boat the same way I do! For a small platform its hard to image something better suited. I also purchased a demo model (hull #26 / sail #36[?]) with less than 50 hrs on the diesel. A great way to get a good deal on an almost new boat.

If you & kid ever find yourself in Sydney (albeit won't be anytime soon) drop me a line.
 

Attachments

Last edited:
  • Like
Likes: Slow2229

Froudy

.
Apr 18, 2020
30
Catalina 275 Sag Harbor
Welcome Tjuliar and Boxing Roo to the forum!! Good to have you aboard and look out for all sorts of other interesting threads Codybear keeps things pretty organized! Tjuliar how does that umbrella work out? - I am looking for shade so interested. Boxing Roo, great to see the kids having fun! We have made a lot of use of the open transom and swim ladder on our 275.

Question for the forum. I am pretty sure I spotted a 275 with a white hull motoring into Sag Harbor bay out of Gardiners Bay a few weeks back. It was a long way off and I was looking though binoculars so not 100% sure. Would be great to hear if anyone was in the area.
 

PMK

.
Dec 3, 2016
43
Catalina 275S Annapolis, MD
For those sailing in areas with ORR or ORR-EZ handicap systems the news is not good. ORR is a measured system. It looks like PHRF of 180 is more favorable than ORR. The higher the number the faster the rating. Pretty interesting. A CS30 rates in the 140s. Wavelength-165. Pearson 30- 174. Yikes!

Cloud NineCatalina 275 SportFin106.0%Asym-CL0.762
20.4​
28.5​
RevolutionCs 30Fin150.0%Both-PL0.763
11.8​
14.8​
TerroirBristol 35.5 CBCB155.0%Asym-CL0.758
7.6​
10.0​
HarrierCS 30Fin154.5%-0.749
9.1​
9.1​
SynapseJeanneau 389Wing130.0%Asym-CL0.754
13.2​
17.4​
Death StarJ/24One DesignFin150.0%Sym-PL0.737
17.7​
21.2​
Another Dubious DecisionWavelength 24Fin152.6%Sym-PL0.762
22.3​
26.6​
HeydayPearson 30Fin155.0%Sym-PL0.744
8.9​
10.8​
Sorry the late response. I own Cloud Nine, which here in Annapolis, has a PHRF rating of 171 for random course racing (not W/L). My ORR rating is 711.1. Note, the post above is not correct, faster boats get a lower ORR rating, not higher. Revolution, who I race against occasionally, has a PHRF rating of 162 (rated faster that Cloud Nine) and a ORR rating of 712.5 (rated slower than Cloud Nine). Over the last 3 years racing under ORR, it seems to be a fairer system than PHRF, especially since it assigns different ratings to boats depending on the wind speed. As a side note, I am certain that a PHRF rating of 171 is too low for my boat (furling 106 dacron jib with suncover, folding prop, fin keel). I contested my previous rating of 162 two years ago to arrive at my current rating, which is still way to low, but I don't plan to contest it again.
 
Jan 13, 2009
391
J Boat 92 78 Sandusky
Uh, my mistake. Your example seems to show that your competitor has a better ORR (ORC?) rating than you do. Dacron jib with suncover doesn’t sound too optimal for a light air Chesapeake in any rating system. Don’t you mean ORC club instead of ORR?
 

PMK

.
Dec 3, 2016
43
Catalina 275S Annapolis, MD
ORR is correct. Offshore Racing Rule. Under PHRF and ORR there is rating adjustment for roller furling with jib/genoa, with suncover. Under PHRF the adjustment is +9 sec. Not so light for a race today, 15-20 kts with gusts to 30 at the start, thankfully dropping in the afternoon.
 
Aug 21, 2020
23
Catalina 275 Coffs Harbour
Hi everyone, I just purchased a pre-loved 275 from the original owner in Brisbane (Australia). My wife and I raced sailboards back in the 80s/90s and we've always wanted to get a yacht. Being restricted in travel we decided now is the perfect time and thought the 275 looked perfect to get started. When we committed to the purchase our plan was to get an experienced sailor to bring it to us in Coffs Harbour, but the border closure between Qld and NSW put an end to that, so we had to do it ourselves. The journey was approx 240nm and took a few weeks. It's been a very steep learning curve but we now have the boat safely in our local marina. We decided not to sail at night and therefore had to do 3 coastal bar crossings which were quite stressful. The close encounters along the way with whales, dolphins and other marine life was just magical. We should have done this years ago. Our neighbour took the photo below as we sailed into Coffs Harbour.

I already have a list of things I want to do to improve the boat, so look forward to learning from you experts :)
 

Attachments

Mar 11, 2014
224
1057
Hi everyone, I just purchased a pre-loved 275 from the original owner in Brisbane (Australia). My wife and I raced sailboards back in the 80s/90s and we've always wanted to get a yacht. Being restricted in travel we decided now is the perfect time and thought the 275 looked perfect to get started. When we committed to the purchase our plan was to get an experienced sailor to bring it to us in Coffs Harbour, but the border closure between Qld and NSW put an end to that, so we had to do it ourselves. The journey was approx 240nm and took a few weeks. It's been a very steep learning curve but we now have the boat safely in our local marina. We decided not to sail at night and therefore had to do 3 coastal bar crossings which were quite stressful. The close encounters along the way with whales, dolphins and other marine life was just magical. We should have done this years ago. Our neighbour took the photo below as we sailed into Coffs Harbour.

I already have a list of things I want to do to improve the boat, so look forward to learning from you experts :)
Congrats and welcome aboard. Fair winds!
 
Aug 21, 2020
23
Catalina 275 Coffs Harbour
Finally someone else using this boat the same way I do! For a small platform its hard to image something better suited. I also purchased a demo model (hull #26 / sail #36[?]) with less than 50 hrs on the diesel. A great way to get a good deal on an almost new boat.

If you & kid ever find yourself in Sydney (albeit won't be anytime soon) drop me a line.
Hi Boxing Roo, that's a nice looking boat. I saw your boat in the review that Jessica Watson did on boatadvice.com.au, which ultimately convinced us to buy one. There is also another C275 headed your way. We spent a few nights in Manly marina on the way down to Coffs and noticed a very nice red C275 (named Cinamon) that had apparently been sold to someone from Sydney but they were trying to work out how to get it across the border.
 
  • Like
Likes: Slow2229

Froudy

.
Apr 18, 2020
30
Catalina 275 Sag Harbor
So as season one with my 275 starts to conclude the conditions get more exciting. Did a sail last weekend with wind up to 28 knots and about 4 feet of swell with white caps. Had jib about 40% reefed and the main fully reefed. I was really impressed, boat behaved impeccably. We were doing an anti-clockwise circuit of Shelter Island NY. I will admit after a wild three hours tacking across Gardiners Bay I was happy to find calmer waters on the north side of the island. I wanted to share as the Catalina performed well and could have handled way more! Three more weeks till she goes on the hard for the winter :-(
 
  • Like
Likes: Boxing Roo
Jul 24, 2018
34
Catalina 275 36 Sydney Harbour
Hi Boxing Roo, that's a nice looking boat. I saw your boat in the review that Jessica Watson did on boatadvice.com.au, which ultimately convinced us to buy one. There is also another C275 headed your way. We spent a few nights in Manly marina on the way down to Coffs and noticed a very nice red C275 (named Cinamon) that had apparently been sold to someone from Sydney but they were trying to work out how to get it across the border.
G'day dleckenby, great to read your coast passage to Coffs aboard 'Last Tango' went well. Any coastal/offshore passage is satisfying to complete so to deliver your own boat home behind that southern break wall would have been a satisfying result. Well done Mate.

Also great mention of your unexpected marine life encounters along the way. Likewise I had a dolphin pod escort aboard 'Sapphire' about 8-9 months ago of the NSW coast. I had previously seen dolphins/porpoises whilst sailing in other parts of the world however only 1-2 at a time beneath the bow and/or jumping out of the water alongside. But this day was different. Without warning at least a dozen popped out on all sides - including little calves - arcing along as I sailed/surfed my way back in towards Sydney ahead of a Nor'easter breaking swell. After a good long 5-10 mins with me whistling and banging with a winch handle against the side of the hull to keep their attention... they eventually peeled away to continue down the coast.

Of course I was on my own that day so every time have told the story since over beers have been made to feel as though a tree might have fallen in the woods ;-)

Thanks for the heads up, once the border reopens will keep an eye out for 'Cinnamon'. Along with 'Ciara' (also on YouTube) she will be third C275 moored on Sydney Harbour.
 

F260SS

.
Oct 7, 2020
31
Catalina 275 Sport Grapevine
Hello, I just took delivery of my 275 Last week and got it in the water and mast stepped yesterday. The boat formerly known as ”Limey”, will be kept in Lake Grapevine in north Texas. (If renaming a boat is bad luck, is renaming it a second time good luck?)

This is my first sailboat, so I will probably have a lot of questions.
 
Jun 6, 2016
204
Catalina 275 Wilmette, IL
Congratulations. Please post a picture of her. Can't say if a second renaming is good luck, but at least you will have removed the bad luck from the first renaming.