Why a Multihull?

[eyschulman]

Yes I do prefer the tri format-the boat I owned for 10 years was a real tiger.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by eyschulman

So what about a large cat that carries a J/95 under its belly with a quick lift rig for its mast. That should take care of all the mono and multi fixated sailors.

But would it be self-righteous?

[eyschulman]

Well if the cat flips over with the 95 stll attached to its belly some hefty exlosive charges on the 95s laches will just filp it head over heels and uypright just like in a James Bond sinerio.

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by maxingout

I'm not a racer, and it seemed weird for these multihulls to be sailing with only one hull in the water the majority of the time. I wonder how close they were to capsize when they were flying hulls. It didn't look like the crew was scurrying around frantically trying to prevent a capsize. But I suppose the sail trimmers were hard at work trying to make it look easy.

I think that sailing in only 7 to 8 knot breezes must make the job easier.

I would like to have seen the same races with the wind pumping back and forth from 15 to 25 knots. That would have made the situation much more challenging and interesting. I didn't find the race to be boring, but it wasn't particularly exciting. The word that comes to mind is "interesting", but not exciting. If the wind was pumping 15 to 25 knots, the word coming to mind might have been "exciting."

I think it is fairly common in the racing scene for them to be attempting to be flying the main hull. I don't know what actual percentage of the time they accomplish it.
multicoques orma, multi 60', ocean race multihull associatio

They're in a fair amount of wind in the above link, notice the reef.


A design book I saw talked about how some boats are twitchy and others aren't. He said it had to do with how the righting moment changed with heel. I assume a fairly slow amount of change in righting moment at the angles of heel that you're striving for just flying a hull at would be easier to control.

John

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

But would it be self-righteous?

Yes, just not self-righting.

[eyschulman]

For those who have never sailed a 20k + tri- let me tell you at speed with one or two hulls out of the water a well designed and riged boat is very responsive to the helm and a little down wind in the puffs and up in the lulls will do wonders for your stability concerns. I owned my boat for 11 years mainly single handed and toped 20 k frequently no flips not even close. On the other hand I have observed some sailors who I would never let loose at the helm at 20k- It takes a team helmsman-boat

[YOGAO]

Originally Posted by Joli

Why keep score? Let's just meet up and drink beer.

...a suggestion we can all agree with. I'll start!

Fair Winds,
Mike

[Joli]

Well, Sint Maarten is holding a regatta soon and I'm pretty sure there is a multi class. They may even have a beer sponsor?

Heineken Regatta | Home

Originally Posted by YOGAO

...a suggestion we can all agree with. I'll start!

Fair Winds,
Mike

[Tropic Cat]

Originally Posted by DesertMermaid

If budget wasn't an issue, a multihull would be my dream. Multihulls are not only more expensive, but (in my opinion) - you can't "get away" with buying an old (or older) one. Multihull technology has impressively improved, so for me (money notwithstanding) the decision is this: A new multihull would be my first choice.

I'm looking at an older monohull. You get way more for the money!

I think I would disagree with this post. It's a buyer's market out there and catamarans are no exception. There are deals to be had on older boats.

If you think newer Cats might be better, in general you would be right, but it also means that you haven't read the appropriate CF threads on the subject!!