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Old 02-05-2010, 17:27   #1
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Learning Curve for Catamaran

If I am learning to sail on a catamaran what kind of learning curve might I expect from a switch to a monohall of similar length?
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Old 02-05-2010, 17:39   #2
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There are subtle differances, when to reef, how high to point, how to attack a seaway etc. Much is how to provision and how to outfit. If you are learning on a beach cat then moving up to a mono means new sail trim techniques but once you learn what to watch for and how to read your tell tales you'll get the hang of it. I move from a mono to a tri frequently and my tendancy is to over sheet the mono due to differances in apparent wind. Dave
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Old 02-05-2010, 17:48   #3
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Alright, that makes sense. And I have just started with a beach cat; an 18ft trailerable cat, but was just invited aboard a friends boat at the end of may which I believe is a Tanzer 20-something.
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Old 03-05-2010, 04:15   #4
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Sailing is sailing after all. All your lines and sails on a cat work exactly the same as on any mono.

Learning the boat shouldn't take very long at all.
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Old 03-05-2010, 05:19   #5
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If I am learning to sail on a catamaran what kind of learning curve might I expect from a switch to a monohall of similar length?
Hopefully a steep learing curve. Its definilty needed as Cats don't require sailing...Just some oaf sitting at a automobile wheel throwing cash about.
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Old 03-05-2010, 05:40   #6
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Hopefully a steep learing curve. Its definilty needed as Cats don't require sailing...Just some oaf sitting at a automobile wheel throwing cash about.
Come on Mark; don't sit on the fence
Maybe we can turn this into another cat vs monohull thread - wouldn't that be interesting

Cheers
Cliff
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Old 03-05-2010, 05:52   #7
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jealousy rearing it's ugly head? IMHO no problem making the switch. just do it.
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Old 03-05-2010, 06:00   #8
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Hopefully a steep learing curve. Its definilty needed as Cats don't require sailing...Just some oaf sitting at a automobile wheel throwing cash about.
Practice standing with one leg bent. Having a contractor tilt your house about 15-20 degrees to help ease the transition. Replace all of the stairs with ladders. You'll be OK.

All kidding aside, the differences from boat to boat are greater than the differences from one type to the other, IMHO. What is important is to learn the feel of the wind and water.

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Old 03-05-2010, 09:24   #9
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IMO you don't get the 'feel' of what the boat's up to on a cruising cat like you do on a mono, so you've got to reduce sail area based on the wind speed rather than by what the boat is telling you. The upwind performance is usually rubbish, so as long as you're happy enough to use the use the engines from time to time you'll be fine. IMO the transition was an easy and fun one to make. :-)
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Old 03-05-2010, 10:10   #10
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Hopefully a steep learing curve. Its definilty needed as Cats don't require sailing...Just some oaf sitting at a automobile wheel throwing cash about.
Excellent - I can relax now and not worry about sail trim or angles or apparent breeze. I just need to be an oaf and sit at an automobile wheel.

FFS. does every question in this forum about multis have to degenerate into an exercise in bigotry .
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Old 03-05-2010, 13:50   #11
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If I am learning to sail on a catamaran what kind of learning curve might I expect from a switch to a monohall of similar length?
You just need to get used to going really slow, rolling your guts out at anchor, being cramped for space, living in a dark damp cave, and never being able to put your cup of coffee down.

Other than that, it's all pretty much the same.
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Old 03-05-2010, 13:53   #12
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Hopefully a steep learing curve. Its definilty needed as Cats don't require sailing...Just some oaf sitting at a automobile wheel throwing cash about.


The oaf.....me!

I guess this means I can keep the bottle of rum next to my beer when under way?
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Old 03-05-2010, 14:13   #13
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I went from a 30ft. mono to a 46ft. cat. If you can read the wind on the water you'll be just fine.

Hey MarkJ,

I resemble that remark..................i2f
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Old 03-05-2010, 16:20   #14
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Hopefully a steep learing curve. Its definilty needed as Cats don't require sailing...Just some oaf sitting at a automobile wheel throwing cash about.
Doesn't this apply to all B.O.A.T. owners?

Maybe it's because I am still wet behind my ears, but I did not find I had to learn things differently when I switched from my 36 foot mono to a 36ft catamaran.

Cheers!

JohnC
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Old 03-05-2010, 16:59   #15
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I love these threads.

I read em all!!!
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