Why Don't Cats Race?

[Boracay]

Next you'll be suggesting that giant proas with adjustable powered submersible amas be allowed to race.

[Factor]

Thats funny (cause its true)

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Joli

God forgive me, I can't resist, one word, UPWIND.

OK, sorry, I'll go away.

Perhaps you have forgotten the time a 60 foot cat raced a 120 foot mono around a windward leeward course?

One word: SLAUGHTER.

And THAT'S why multihulls are not allowed in the Sydney-Hobart.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Joli

God forgive me, I can't resist, one word, UPWIND.

OK, sorry, I'll go away.

Dear o Dear

The 1988 America’s Cup races: 7 to 9 September 1988 off San Diego, California.
Best two out of three races.

Stars & Stripes raced against the huge 90 feet mono-hull challenger New Zealand KZ-1

Races: two sailed.

Race Course:
Alternate courses
First race 40 nautical miles long, one windward leg (20 miles) and return.
Second race 39 nautical miles, triangular course (13 miles by leg, first windward, two and three reaching leg).

Results:

Stars & Stripes beat New Zealand KZ-1 by two wins to nil!

- 7 September 1988, 1st race. Wind speed: 7 to 9 knots. Stars & Stripes beat New Zealand by 18 minutes and 15 sec.

- 9 September 1988, 2nd race. Wind speed: 6 to 15 knots. Stars & Stripes beat New Zealand by 21 minutes and 10 sec.

Can't go to windward my arse

[clockwork orange]

I agree with Joli,if they let multis into races such as the hobart pretty soon someone would show up with an orma 60 tri and put the f#*%!stick to the giant motorboats even if it were UPWIND and that would never do.
Steve.

[David M]

[Sailndive345]

Originally Posted by RubyBishop

Please - I don’t want a debate mono vs multi. [For my purpose, needs and wants a Cat is the way to go], but . . .

The question I have is why don’t Cats [or any multihull] participate in 'open' [blue water] races. We have just had the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race which is one of a number of big blue water races that is open to various classes, expect it would seem multihulls. Why?

FWIW, a Condor 40' tri used to race and frequently win the Galveston, TX-Vera Cruz, Mexico race (overall) - also, folks in East-central Florida allowed Corsair F-27 tris in their off-shore races (near-shore stuff) I distintly remember the crew of one F-27 spending the night sitting on the upside down boat overnight, being rescued the next day when one of wifes reported them overdue(!)

Sailndive

[Eleven]

There are two different types of people:

1. the ancients (barbarians) who fight wild animals bare handed, run for the fun of it, and can't resist a challenge. They buy THINGS that LOOK fast, it's more manly. Tend to dress in uniform. Travel in organised groups.

2. the modern man who enjoys good food and wine, fine glass and table ware, dry feet, comfort. Wears comfy shirts and slacks. Prefers green energy, natural things. Freedom to wander alone.

There's two sorts of boats as well1

[bayview]

Originally Posted by cat man do

Dear o Dear





Can't go to windward my arse

I can't wait to see how they reef that sail in preparation for a southerly change.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by bayview

I can't wait to see how they reef that sail in preparation for a southerly change.

They didn't even use the chute on the last off-wind leg - no point. And of course no one has even suggested monos in the current contest. As we know, it is a battle of money, engineers and lawyers.

I figure most mono vs multi threads and most anchoring threads are trolls, anyway.


The best reason for not racing mono vs multi is just that they are so different. They are very difficult to handicap accurately against monos in a variety of winds. Better yet, race one-design.

[Fishman_Tx]

Cat racing actually took place both in England, and in Belgium. Harrison Weir, in1889 quotes in his cat book, a publication called 'The Pictorial Times' of 16th June 1860: "Cat-racing is a sport which stands high in popular favour. In one of the suburbs of Liège it is an affair of annual observance during carnival time... The cats are tied up in sacks, and as soon as the clock strikes the solemn hour of midnight the sacks are unfastened, the cats let loose, and the race begins. The winner is the cat which first reaches home, and the prize awarded to its owner is sometimes a ham, sometimes a silver spoon. On the occasion of the last competition the prize was won by a blind cat."
In 1936 at Portisham in Dorset, England a cat racetrack similar to a greyhound track was opened. The course measured 202 metres (220 yards} long, and was equipped with an electric mouse for the competing felines to chase. The last recorded attempt to race cats was in Kent, England in 1949. It is no surprise that both these attempts to race cats competitively failed.

[sweetsailing]

Our two cats race frequently. I expect that as they age, they will do less of this. The bigger white one is faster, the black one is sneakier. The dog can outrun both of them, but can't turn and stop as quickly. Makes for interesting races.

LMAO

Foxy (of BVI fame) holds a Cat Fight every Halloween.

[imagine2frolic]

Nathanael Herreshoff's revolutionary catamaran design of 1876, Amaryllis.

hokule'a - Google Images

Many think it started here with Amaryillis, but it didn't! We all know anytime there's more than one boat it's a race. That takes us all the way back to Captain Cook sailing into Hawaiian waters. They were amazed to see a sail quickly catching them after coming over the horizon. Turned out to be a big Hawaiian canoe, catamaran, loaded with fellas waving, and smiling as they passed. Dennis Conners would've been proud...............i2f

[bayview]

Maybe because if you really want to win races you use a mono.
Did anyone see the results of the recent NZ coastal classic.

Mono 'Alfa Romeo", set new race record and beat all the multis in a mainly reaching race. See.....HSBC Coastal Classic 2009 - Auckland to Russell Yacht Race

What would have happened if it was a mainly windward race?

Did "Black Jack", a mono, beat all the multis in the last Brisbane/Gladstone race? (a mostly downwind race as well)

[Factor]

The opposition to Alfa was somewhat cheaper - maybe we should adopt a classification system on the amount of money the boat costs, like some motor racing classes. Also I couldnt afford to pay its crew for an hour!!

Anyway the first 12 multis beat every mono except Alfa home on elapsed, in short about half the multi fleet beat home every mono bar the multi multi multi million dollar professional boat and crew. I would welcome some comment on the multis, I know taeping, for example, it cost less than alfa's crew wages for a day.

Look comparing Alfa to the opposition is really pointless, irrespective of the number of hulls, they are in a different league. Its like comparing formula 1 to touring cars.

How about you compare apples with apples not aardvarks