Catamaran sail training in Australia

[Heg]

Hi
Hubby and me are planning on selling up, buying a catamaran ( hopefully a late model Lagoon 400S2) and setting off around the world for the next 20 years. I have never sailed a boat in my life. Hubby has only sailed small boats as a kid.

We figure that as we will only ever be sailing a cat, then we should only need sailing instruction on a cat, but cannot find a local RYA course that offers this. They all seem to offer mono hull and the boats they use look cramped and a bit grim. Not something I want to be living on for 5 days... . I like my creature comforts

Does anyone know of any catamaran focused courses ? Or are we better off paying for private tuition ? (if we can find it)

[grahamb]

hi........go to the Whitsundays......rent a Perry43......with skipper.......lots of anchorages ........lots of different cats.....see them all ......talk to the owners/people hiring....enjoy some of the best grounds in Australia for a week.....see if its for you.....


have fun.

[Jacana]

Hubby and you can find it a smidge south on the Gold Coast ,your most welcome to come down and have a Sail on my Catamaran .Cheers Geoff

[Factor]

There is a Cat sail school in Sydney. They run the course on a 12.5 metre cat

Wisky business sailing school

[Heg]

Originally Posted by Jacana

Hubby and you can find it a smidge south on the Gold Coast ,your most welcome to come down and have a Sail on my Catamaran .Cheers Geoff

Wow! Thanks Geoff. How often do you go out? Or do you live aboard? you can PM me if you prefer..

[WildFireAus]

Hi there - we have a similar dream but have gone down the crazy route of building our own catamaran in Victoria. We are building a Schionning GForce 17C. I am very pleased actually thrilled to say we will be hitting the water this year. But thats a whole different story. But like you I have no sailing experience (my hubby does though) and also sought ways of learning how to sail a catamaran. As one reader suggested go to Whitsundays but that can be quite costly and only for a few days. But I am sure I have read in Cruising Helmsman or Multihull Australia magazines ad section someone was doing weekend sails out of Brisbane. Another option is to become a member of a yacht club that has a number of cat members. often they have sailing events that require volunteer crew but make sure say u want to volunteer on a cat. I found I was trying to learn to sail on a monohull and didn't enjoy it. Then cat owners told me sailing a cat is just different so then we made the decision to only sail on cats and I enjoy it so much more and have made some nice friends along the way. This way you can build up on going experience. Good luck!

[AndyBerry]

If you don't mind going to San Diego, CA West Coast Multihull has a good reputation for Multihull training.

[thinwater]

They're going to sail around the day, but can go without creature comforts by sailing on a smaller (probably quite nice) mono for 5 days?

They need to cruise 5 days in an open boat. After they've done that (I have) they'll have a better idea if they want to sail far.

----

I would suggest sailing a beach cat in a blow a few times to actually learn about cats in a blow. But they can do some fair weather classes if they want. But there is a LOT they won't learn.

[Boardshorts]

I suggest you start doing courses ..... do your day skipper course in Moreton Bay first ... split the practical into 3 + 2 days on board the monohull if you are worried. Southern Cross school did a good course when I did it. You first learn about sailing and navigation .... you don't need to be on a cat. If you do it in winter, that boat will feel snug and not too cramped.

Then suggest you head down to Royal QLD Yacht Club (on Wednesday afternoons or other race days) and start volunteering as crew. Ask the friendly race coordinators to try and put you on cats / introduce you to cat owners who may invite you out next time. You can email the coordinators in advance. Always take afternoon tea for the whole boat if you want to make an extra good impression.

Then Bareboat charter a cat by yourselves to see if you like it .... before you commit and sell / buy anything. Not all couples like it. I believe there is one Seawind for bareboat charter in Moreton Bay if Whitsundays is too far or hard.

Once you have some experiences, post messages on this forum and you will find a number of local cat owners who can show you their boats and teach you the secret cat owners handshake.

Good luck.

[Logie]

Hi Heg, I run a commercial catamaran in Sydney including sail training as well as private charters. Our courses are geared towards people with little to no knowledge who are thinking of a bareboat charter for the first time. People who may have had a monohull sailing experience and are now considering purchasing a catamaran. And the most popular course is geared towards teaching the partner of a sailor who may have very little sailing experience, giving them the confidence and skills to be as actively involved in operations of the vessel. Details are on our website Home - Too Up Sailing if you would some more information

[deepwaterport]

[QUOTE=Heg;2126938]Hi

Hi there
I may be able to get you on a lagoon 380 sailing up Qld Coast now. Ring 0432412141. John

[GB650]

Hi Heg, we are thinking of doing the same as you and are going through the same thoughts and processes. I have done limited sailing but my wife has only motor launch experience. At this stage, we have booked a week on a Seawind in the Whitsundays, and have booked a trainer for extra tuition. Will keep you posted - our booking is from the 8th August for a week.

[ozskipper]

It wont matter too much if you get your basics done at a local sailing schools on monos.

The basics are all the same. A main sail is a mainsail. The anchor rode is the anchor rode. A cardinal mark is a cardinal mark. Apparent wind is still apparent wind.

There are some good arguments for learning on monos (Ducks for cover). Eg actually feeling how the boat responds to the wind.

Dont let the look of the training boat worry you too much. They are "work boats" and they get beaten up by students. You are there to learn to sail, not to be on the nicest boat in the marina. Most lessons are day lessons anyway. Usually its not until you are advanced that you will start doing overnighters and passages etc.

Just, take your jewelry off, book a lesson and get out there. You can always charter a cat in the future, then get specialist advice from the charter co.

[Heg]

Originally Posted by GB650

Hi Heg, we are thinking of doing the same as you and are going through the same thoughts and processes. I have done limited sailing but my wife has only motor launch experience. At this stage, we have booked a week on a Seawind in the Whitsundays, and have booked a trainer for extra tuition. Will keep you posted - our booking is from the 8th August for a week.

Ooooh have funand definitely let me know how you get on please? I think we will do our 'competent Crew ' course here in Brizzy and then possibly the 'Day Skipper' one on a mono hull and then go catamaran lessons from there.

[Heg]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

It wont matter too much if you get your basics done at a local sailing schools on monos.

The basics are all the same. A main sail is a mainsail. The anchor rode is the anchor rode. A cardinal mark is a cardinal mark. Apparent wind is still apparent wind.

There are some good arguments for learning on monos (Ducks for cover). Eg actually feeling how the boat responds to the wind.

It wont matter too much if you get your basics done Dont let the look of the training boat worry you too much. They are "work boats" and they get beaten up by students. You are there to learn to sail, not to be on the nicest boat in the marina. Most lessons are day lessons anyway. Usually its not until you are advanced that you will start doing overnighters and passages etc.

Just, take your jewelry off, book a lesson and get out there. You can always charter a cat in the future, then get specialist advice from the charter co.

OK,OK I hear ya -You have very good point. Guess I will have to slum it on a mono for a few weekends... Have to say I'm very excited about it all