Sailing a Catamaran Solo

[Andrew Grace]

To anyone wondering how easy it is to sail a well setup cat solo, this was taken sailing in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world... The autopilot also helps.....

https://youtu.be/5xyLdhwtjUw

[paxfish]

Very nice! I'll tell ya, I'm going to take another look at that 1160 at the Annapolis show in the fall....

Multihulls are great for singlehanding. Nice stable platform, and sort of like a playpen that is hard to fall out of. Also, I'm getting more comfortable is heavier air with a reef in place. I was out solo in 15+ the other day, and it was not arduous at all.

Here's a short video of some light air singlehanding last fall on Terrapin. Tillerpilot helps a lot. I'd like to rig it up with a wristwatch control for minor course correction. The Corsair shown was also singlehanded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXb4hYj9EOU

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by Andrew Grace

To anyone wondering how easy it is to sail a well setup cat solo, this was taken sailing in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world... The autopilot also helps.....

https://youtu.be/5xyLdhwtjUw

Another nice vid Andrew. I am green with envy! Careful you don't kill yourself in your own clutter!

[SaltyMonkey]

How easy is it to park though?

[SV DestinyAscen]

Another great vid! Thanks! Any plans to cruise to Australia & setup a patron and put together a series?

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

How easy is it to park though?

Driving a catamaran is like driving a tracked vehicle - you can literally pivot. If anything it is easier than any mono of similar length.

[SaltyMonkey]

Again park, like at a dock, singlehanded in a crowded narrow lane marina with screaming female monkeys around...

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Again park, like at a dock, singlehanded in a crowded narrow lane marina with screaming female monkeys around...

Can't speak for Andrew's boat but my Seawind has two engines forward of the rudders. It can spin in its own length and walk sideways. I grew up with monohulls and back in the day use to sail into an end slip with the right conditions. But docking a cat with twin engines makes docking trivial. It tracks like a dream when you balance the engines. Docking is not done using the wheel, you control the boat by shifting between forward and reverse.

Have to admit my experience with screaming female monkeys is limited.

[jbinbi]

Long time sailor, but new to cats. Have been out about 15x in the past year.

1. I am on a mooring, and single hand. Easy to pick up mooring by myself. Just get the pickup stick between the 2 hulls, I can then grab it and get one of the 2 pendant loops over over one of the cleats. Once one is on, I can then pull the other one on, or if too much wind, can leisurely go back to help, re maneuver boat and get other loop on.

2. Docking. With 2 engines, it is so much easier to position and place the boat that with my other monos. I have gotten out slips a few times that after I had done it, wondered if I was really that good, because in a mono, I would have bumped and scraped all along the hull. Hint, I am not that good, it is just that much easier. Truth be told, if my mono had a bow thruster, it would have been much easier as well.

3. Sailing. All lines are led to the helm station on my boat. 1 electric winch. Turn into wind, raise main (yes, a PITA to make sure it clears stackpack lines) on electric winch. Fall off. Pull out roller furling genny, place sheet on electric winch. done, now sailing.

Was out in 22-25 last week. Reefed main to 1st reef point. Had to go 12 mi directly into the wind, so tacked all the way there. Set autopilot to wind mode. When I have to tack, hit button on autopilot to auto tack. take sheet out of self tailer, wait until boat comes around, release line, pull in new jib sheet, wrap around winch, hit button until it sheets in. The only way it could be easier is if maybe I had another electric winch.

I can't say I am expert yet, but for day sailing at least, I can pretty much single hand.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by jbinbi

The only way it could be easier is if maybe I had another electric winch.

Self tacking jib?

[admiralslater]

Sailed on to the club dock last night. I did have my brother with me, but have done it solo. We have a nice wide approach to the dock

[Factor]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Again park, like at a dock, singlehanded in a crowded narrow lane marina with screaming female monkeys around...

Its very very very easy. I actually prefer to do it single handed rather than have people assist. You need to get out more.

[boatman61]

Much easier than a mono for marina's.. once you've the feel of her windage one can literally side step into a berth using the engine.. just got to watch the wheel is well locked.. nearly had an 'Oppss..!!' moment once when the rudder took charge.. knee throbbed for a couple of weeks as well..
Sailing.. its already been said.. everything's at the helm on the modern Cat's..
Still don't understand this 'Flybridge' trend.. now they are a bit of a pain solo..

[StuM]

Take a look at this (especially the last 30 seconds):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnvQ95KgJdc

[Andrew Grace]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Much easier than a mono for marina's.. once you've the feel of her windage one can literally side step into a berth using the engine.. just got to watch the wheel is well locked.. nearly had an 'Oppss..!!' moment once when the rudder took charge.. knee throbbed for a couple of weeks as well..
Sailing.. its already been said.. everything's at the helm on the modern Cat's..
Still don't understand this 'Flybridge' trend.. now they are a bit of a pain solo..

Very good point raised , if you intend to do a fair bit of solo sailing then steer clear of the flybridge cats,

[Andrew Grace]

Originally Posted by StuM

Take a look at this (especially the last 30 seconds):

Best solution is always call Brent to dock the boat for you.