Real cruising multihull speeds

[Woods Designs]

I have been away sailing on my catamaran so haven't read this forum for some time, my apologies. I'll try not to do it again (BG)

So I am making a new post rather than replying to what is now a very old one.

Following is part of what I wrote in an article "Why sail a catamaran" published recently in Practical Boat Owner magazine (the largest UK boating magazine).

"....Most catamarans are advertised as being "fast" for many people are easily seduced by the thought of more speed. However, when cruising, speed must always be related to comfort. Just because a catamaran sails upright to windward and doesn't roll downwind, it doesn't mean you should always sail one fast.
On a monohull you tend to sail as fast as possible all the time. On a catamaran you only sail as fast as you want to go.
I often compare boats with cars: 6 knots is 60mph, 8 knots is 80; 20 knots is 200. So in reality not many cruising multihulls genuinely do 20 knots in flat water.

A monohull is like an old car; you can keep your foot on the gas all the time. In a new car it's often hard to judge how fast you are going, it's so comfortable. In practice, few people buy the fastest car; rather most want a car that is comfortable to drive and handles predictably. Even so, you quickly learn not to drive fast in traffic, in the dark or in bad weather.

It's the same with a catamaran, where the real trick to successful catamaran sailing is to know when to slow down. Thus I prefer to cruise offshore at a 6 knot average rather than 9. That's because even 9 knots can be uncomfortably fast when passagemaking, mainly because you are living on board, not just out for a day sail.

I've found that peak speeds are about double the average speed. To average 9 knots you'll often do 18 and later you'll swear the log never read below 12.

Sheer speed is not the main reason we go sailing, for if we really wanted to get somewhere in a hurry we'd use a powerboat. Instead, what is important is to have a boat that is fun to sail.

Having a responsive boat and one that will do what you want when you want it are the real differences between boats that sail well and those that don't......"

You can see the whole article by reading the link found on my Latest News page, or by buying a back issue from PBO

In 60,000 miles of ocean sailing I have twice done 650 miles in three days, once 1000 miles in 5. All when racing full crewed and hand steering. I doubt if anyone really averages 200 miles a day if living on board (wife knitting? baby crying?? you sleeping for some of the time???)

So the real questions to ask are not "How fast do you sail" but:

"How comfortably do you sail when averaging 175 miles a day?" and "How much wind do you need to do so?"

Good sailing, at any speed
Richard Woods of Woods Designs

Woods Designs Sailing Catamarans