Catamaran sailboats are fast
sailboats that have two hulls. A catamaran can be a sailboat
or a power
boat. They are made for one person to easily sail, big enough to
liveaboard or made to race around the world. Catamaran sailboats are a
unique, fast, sailing experience.
Sailing Framed Photographic Print
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Catamaran boats were thought to have their beginning as early as the 5th century AD in India. In Polynesian time, catamarans were used for transportation and fishing. They were nothing more than two canoes tied together. Today, catamaran sailboats and catamaran power boats are the fastest growing segment in the entire boating industry!
The Hobie Cat 16 ft catamaran sailboat is the most popular Hobie Cat ever built. It was made to delight its owners because they now had a small sailboat they could push off the beach and through the surf and then when it is time to go home the Hobie cat would easily go back through the surf to the beach without a problem. All parts of the mast, boom, sail and the rigging come apart and are stored for travel. A lot of Hobie Cats have been made through the years and the 16ft is still in production today. Some other popular catamaran sailboats are the Hurricane 5.9 and Top Cats. These small sailing catamarans are very fast, they are mass produced, trailerable and they can be beached. Therefore they are lovingly called ”beach cats".
Catamaran Sailing, Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL Framed Photographic Print
Canova, Pat
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Catamaran sailboats (two hulls) are sailed on the same principles as a mono-hull (one hull) with only a few exceptions. These few exceptions can be very important. This is why most experts say for the novice to learn to sail on small mono-hull sailboats because they are easier to sail and therefore easier to learn the techniques of sailing. There are Sailing videos that can help teach you the techniques you need. Catamaran sailboats are much harder to sail for the following reasons. First they are much harder to tack. That means they are much harder to change the direction you are going. A mono-hull can turn quickly, almost “on a dime” as the saying goes.The catamaran sailboat due to the two long hulls, has much more lateral resistance to turning. Also the boat is lighter so there is less momentum going into the turn. You need to have some good jib control to complete the turn or you can end up “in irons” or pointing into the wind and sailing backwards if you are not careful.
Daytrip Catamaran, Tobago Cays, Grenadines Photographic Print
Neubert, Reid
Buy at AllPosters.com
Each of these negative aspects of a sailing catamaran has a positive side as well. The lighter the cat, the faster the speed. The wider the beam the harder to turn but the more stable in the water and the less heeling so the ride is more comfortable. The sailing catamarans stay upright in more wind and the bigger the boat the more wind and seas it can take. Also, the wider the boat the more room for living aboard.
Catamaran sailboats are a great choice for long distance cruising and racing and the world is taking notice. In 2001 the round the world race was won by a giant catamaran named Club Med, crewed by a skipper Grant Dalton. He sailed around the world in 62 days with an average speed of 18 knots(about 30 mph). That is really moving on the water with only the power of the wind. Catamarans are awesome!
Sailing Framed Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Catamaran boats were thought to have their beginning as early as the 5th century AD in India. In Polynesian time, catamarans were used for transportation and fishing. They were nothing more than two canoes tied together. Today, catamaran sailboats and catamaran power boats are the fastest growing segment in the entire boating industry!
The Hobie Cat 16 ft catamaran sailboat is the most popular Hobie Cat ever built. It was made to delight its owners because they now had a small sailboat they could push off the beach and through the surf and then when it is time to go home the Hobie cat would easily go back through the surf to the beach without a problem. All parts of the mast, boom, sail and the rigging come apart and are stored for travel. A lot of Hobie Cats have been made through the years and the 16ft is still in production today. Some other popular catamaran sailboats are the Hurricane 5.9 and Top Cats. These small sailing catamarans are very fast, they are mass produced, trailerable and they can be beached. Therefore they are lovingly called ”beach cats".
Catamaran Sailing, Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL Framed Photographic Print
Canova, Pat
Buy at AllPosters.com
Catamaran sailboats (two hulls) are sailed on the same principles as a mono-hull (one hull) with only a few exceptions. These few exceptions can be very important. This is why most experts say for the novice to learn to sail on small mono-hull sailboats because they are easier to sail and therefore easier to learn the techniques of sailing. There are Sailing videos that can help teach you the techniques you need. Catamaran sailboats are much harder to sail for the following reasons. First they are much harder to tack. That means they are much harder to change the direction you are going. A mono-hull can turn quickly, almost “on a dime” as the saying goes.The catamaran sailboat due to the two long hulls, has much more lateral resistance to turning. Also the boat is lighter so there is less momentum going into the turn. You need to have some good jib control to complete the turn or you can end up “in irons” or pointing into the wind and sailing backwards if you are not careful.
Daytrip Catamaran, Tobago Cays, Grenadines Photographic Print
Neubert, Reid
Buy at AllPosters.com
Each of these negative aspects of a sailing catamaran has a positive side as well. The lighter the cat, the faster the speed. The wider the beam the harder to turn but the more stable in the water and the less heeling so the ride is more comfortable. The sailing catamarans stay upright in more wind and the bigger the boat the more wind and seas it can take. Also, the wider the boat the more room for living aboard.
Catamaran sailboats are a great choice for long distance cruising and racing and the world is taking notice. In 2001 the round the world race was won by a giant catamaran named Club Med, crewed by a skipper Grant Dalton. He sailed around the world in 62 days with an average speed of 18 knots(about 30 mph). That is really moving on the water with only the power of the wind. Catamarans are awesome!
