Catamaran Sailing

[shemandr]

After 40 some odd years of sailing mono-hull boats yesterday was my first experience sailing a catamaran. The boat was a Hobie Getaway launched off the beach. The wind was 10 to 15 knots and there were three of us. My first impression was that it felt more stable than I had imagined. I guess I've not pursued sailing a beach catamaran because I haven't wanted to deal with a capsize and trying to right the boat. No worries yesterday. My second impression was that it was fun to sail. It took awhile to work it to windward but when the wind was in the 15ish area it seemed to go much better upwind. My third thought was that it didn't seem to be overly sensitive to sail trim. Maybe that's due to the greater apparent wind due to the greater speed over a monohull.
I wasn't comfortable sitting on the trampoline - I couldn't find a comfortable way to sit that didn't involve tucking my legs in. We didn't use the outboard seat (Rail?). But I'm reluctant to move around much due to balance issues I have. And I couldn't see a way to easily cross sides because of the mainsail which is boomless. And I kinda missed having the boom to grab for balance or helping to get to my feet from sitting. I can't see going around forward of the mast. I think you have to cross under the main basically on your belly. Next time I'll have knee pads to protect my very knobby knees kneeling on the trampoline.
The tiller is very long and during a tack problematic because you have to raise it vertically and try to pass it aft of the main. I was tempted to throw it backwards to drag in the water, steer thru the tack holding the bar and retrieve it after on the new tack - thoughts?
The first tacks were a problem because near shore the wind was light. Even with some boat speed it was a problem because I tried to turn too hard hoping to get the bow thru. I think I just stopped the boat. I guess I need to carve a turn and rely on the jib backwinding to bring the bow across. But I was surprised at how little momentum helped to bring the bow around.
When we furled the jib I brought the boat mostly into the wind and got stuck in irons. I tried to steer the boat going backwards as I would a monohull. It didn't work because the two hulls track pretty straight - like on rails. Next time I would furl the jib going off the wind shaded by the main.
There's more to learn but I'm looking forward to another session on the getaway.
I

 

[jssailem]

Those small catamarans can be a lot of fun. They can be wet. A wetsuit or warm weather is advised. I always found that they tend to carve a turn - tack rather than a hard over-tack monohull style. No need to furl the jib. I found that easing the jib through irons and firming it up when the wind passes the bow made the tacks smooth and with speed.

The key takeaway from your experience - "My second impression was that it was fun to sail."

 

[PEBI]

Yeah in 2008 I saw just that in Sheerness (UK). Local sailing club. 8 cats. wet suits. 2 per cat. They were very shy. Doing circuits. Looked like hell of a lot of fun.

The SS Richard Montgomery, the famous unexploded WWII ammunition ship. Literally 10 min walk from where I observed the catmarans lol.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

If you're ever in Tampa, I can highly the charter recommend Flip Flops sailing based out of Anna Maria Island. The guy has a 30ish foot Cat. VERY reasonably priced for small groups

 

[dmax]

Welcome to the dark side. Ted Turner, a rather accomplished sailor, said this after sailing a Hobie 18 for the first time:
"This is the most fun I’ve had in years. Why didn’t they have these boats when I was growing up? And it’s sure more fun than racing 12-meters, and all that other serious stuff."

When tacking a light catamaran, leave the jib cleated until the bow passes through the wind.
Throwing the tiller backwards (actually, you want to try to pivot it around back to the other side) is standard procedure when tacking - becomes second nature.

 

[thinwater]

Tacking small cats.

Watch a video of cats racing. Olympics, or just good racers. The jib is NEVER backwinded through a tack. There is a better way. This applies to cruising cats as well.

• Obtain best windward speed. Bear off ~ 5 degrees at most to build some speed, but don't bear off much. Prepare sheets for quick handling.
• Pull the traveler very slightly above the centerline as you begin the turn (optional but helps with the turn on some boats).
• Turn at proper speed. Too fast kills speed, too slow won't make it through. Practice.
• Release jib when it breaks. No backwinding. Ease main sheet a little at head-to-wind (optional, but helps with acceleration out of tack and prevents the main from slowing the turn and forcing the bow up into irons).
• Trim the jib the instant it will fill properly. No backwinding, but it should be trimmed at the first moment it will draw. This will pull the bow through. The main should be eased and the traveler down a little (depends on the boat and conditions). Very little grinding is required, because the jib will be trimmed in under no load as the turn is finishing, and will be fully sheet JUST as the wind hits it.
• Continue the turn slightly past best course. Less in flat water, more in steep chop.
• Bring the main in and steer up to true course as the boat accelerates. Do not rush it, but on flat water the over-turn will be very slight and the acceleration will be quick, since you did not lose that much speed.

I haven't backwinded a jib in decades, including my cruising cat, beach cats, and my current trimaran. All it does is slow the boat and prevent proper carving through the last half of the turn. But a good tack requires practice. The rate of turn and easing the main a little at head-to-wind can be key. This will keep it moving.

On beach cats, a little roll tack helps too. Don't head across until the boat is head to wind, then move it.

Backwinding is mostly for when you are doing something else wrong, or more probably, several things. All of the parts need to work together.

---

Shermandr:

• Yes, you can toss the tiller extension into the water, but with practice the vertical pass becomes second nature.
• You sort of slide across, or at most get on your knees. But mostly, you slide. I never touched the boom. (sailed beach cats for years, and a Prindle 19 last summer).
• There should be hiking straps to tuck your feet under, like a dinghy (with or without seats). Add them if missing. Even if you are not hiking out, the most stable position is with your butt just over the edge, so you don't slide downhill when it heels.
• Sailing a cat with main only (exceptions for some very high performance mono-rigged cats with dagger boards) you do NOT center the traveler. Leave it down at least a foot, and make sure it is eased for the tack. Otherwise it will push you into irons. Without the balance of the jib, and the jib to turn the wind around the main, correct main trim is well eased, even to weather. Traveler center is ONLY for when there is a jib. Also, remember that furling the jib changes the sail balance point. Having the main in tight will increase weather helm and the boat will be slower.

 

[dmax]

I agree, I only rarely backwinded the jib on my Hobies but it is available when having trouble, especially in high winds.