Is a 40 cat enough to sail oceans?

[The Italian]

Hey everybody, just a daydreaming landblubber here that never sailed a day in his life. I've no concrete plan to buy a cat in the near future so this question is purely hypothetical. Would a 40 cat of one of the big 3 be able to sail wherever I want? Or a 42 is better? Or 45? Do a few feet really make a big difference? The idea of sailing around the world with my girlfriend is really romantic, with enough experience is it possible to sail just with 2 people on board? Thank you and I know the question may be stupid and naive, but the quarantine makes me daydreaming!
Have a good day everybody

[Yihang]

Welcome to Siudzinski KatieKat

35 foot seawind with an open saloon sailing around the pacific. Plenty of 38 foot cats have done around the world.

A teenage girl Tania Aebi sailed a 26 foot boat around the world alone.

But I think to be comfortable anything like a 38 foot lagoon is more than enough.

A 40 foot lagoon is HUGE. Have a look at one at the docks.

[arsenelupiga]

sure. it can be done singlehanded, like lagoon 400 we purchased in AUS. Guy sailed by himself with occasional guest. We sail passages as couple only.

Get your girlfriend lots of water, nice kitchen, nice bathroom and she will love it, forever.

For you spend year or 2 preparing boat and make it fast. This adds to fun part and also safety as one wants to cross dangerous part of ocean as quick as possible. Meaning you will need to learn to use screecher, spinnaker and all safety built in. Target is good sailing day is 200 nm + .

Dont go for 'fast' boats as they tend to break things and that type of fast your girlfriend will probably not like and you will be single quick.

[Yihang]

oh and talk to your girlfriend about this first. That is the first big hurdle. At least you are thinking about catamarans which goes a long way to convince non hardcore sialors.

I've been thinking about this since i was in high school. I would take some lessons, live on board, charter together with your GF then see if the reality meets your expectations.

[ausnp84]

I'd hope so! We're off on a Transat in a 30ft cat in the not too distant future....


n

[ausnp84]

I'd hope so! We're off on a Transat in a 30ft cat in the not too distant future....


n

[Jim Woodall]

My guess would be that more Lagoon 380’s are out on the world’s oceans than any other model of cruising catamaran. 380’s have done many circumnavigations as well. A solid 40 foot catamaran may not be the most comfortable size for ocean sailing, but it can get the job done.

[django37]

Yes, 2 on a Lagoon 380 is perfect for round the world. 4 is ok for a 3 weeks cruise. 6 is too many.

[smj]

Originally Posted by arsenelupiga

sure. it can be done singlehanded, like lagoon 400 we purchased in AUS. Guy sailed by himself with occasional guest. We sail passages as couple only.



Get your girlfriend lots of water, nice kitchen, nice bathroom and she will love it, forever.



For you spend year or 2 preparing boat and make it fast. This adds to fun part and also safety as one wants to cross dangerous part of ocean as quick as possible. Meaning you will need to learn to use screecher, spinnaker and all safety built in. Target is good sailing day is 200 nm + .



Dont go for 'fast' boats as they tend to break things and that type of fast your girlfriend will probably not like and you will be single quick.

So you want to buy a slow boat then spend 2 years making it fast rather than buying a fast boat?

[arsenelupiga]

Originally Posted by smj

So you want to buy a slow boat then spend 2 years making it fast rather than buying a fast boat?

yes, i like the process.

i am sure if i had faster boat, would make it even faster using same process. Emphasise strengths of the particular design.

[smj]

Originally Posted by arsenelupiga

yes, i like the process.



i am sure if i had faster boat, would make it even faster using same process. Emphasise strengths of the particular design.

So at what point do you break things?

[arsenelupiga]

Originally Posted by smj

So at what point do you break things?

so far, in exactly 6 years, nothing broke.

excluding anchor winch that has broken because slipping sd 50 cones in windy anchorage.

[boatman61]

I'd like to know how one makes a Lagoon 400 fast..
Remove the keel..???
Strip out all the heavy stuff like generators, engines, fuel and water tanks.. those saildrives do create a lot of drag.
More sail area with bigger mast..

[arsenelupiga]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I'd like to know how one makes a Lagoon 400 fast..
Remove the keel..???
Strip out all the heavy stuff like generators, engines, fuel and water tanks.. those saildrives do create a lot of drag.
More sail area with bigger mast..

many questions heh...

look at waterline. One can see up to 20 cm difference in height comparing same boats, ie L 400. that is lots of performance difference and bridgedeck banging.

Then Folding props, watermaker, new sails, clean hulls, better trim etc.

you get the idea.

[smj]

Originally Posted by arsenelupiga

many questions heh...



look at waterline. One can see up to 20 cm difference in height comparing same boats, ie L 400. that is lots of performance difference and bridgedeck banging.



Then Folding props, watermaker, new sails, clean hulls, better trim etc.



you get the idea.

So fast compared to other L400’s