Went out yesterday on the TS. Gusty and hard to settle the boat. In waves it was a seriously rough ride. The faster it went over the waves though the smoother it got. I am having trouble setting the boat so as not to lift at the reach I want. I had one big, sustained gust headed further off the wind in less chop. The boat compressed onto both hulls and into the water, certainly NOT planing.
This was my fastest run but also by far the most scary. I routinely sail cats in 25/30 knots and I have never been afraid of crashing. I also have a strange "slo-mo' sensation of not really fast. I was clear yesterday that I was going faster than I would like to crash at but sadly..no planing.
A good GPS is on the way for me and yes, I am aware I cannot take those results as fact.
I did however watch the Tornado Worlds off Orakei in Auckland about ten years ago. Small rigs. The day I watched was held in close to 30 and 35 knots. They were absolutely traveling on the last foot of the lee hull and one of the most impressive sailing memories I have. So impressive were these TOrnados that I heard about them on my car radio and diverted to watch the spectacle spoken of. I knew then I had to sail cats.
As far as the foiler thing going fast. Why is it I am not interested in what such an oddball, PITA to set up and use sort of boat does?
Surely we all deal in a boat that has a pleasure/race capability?
And by the way. There were several people (not one group) waiting for me on the beach when I came in wanting to know how the boat cold go so fast. One guy saying "the water coming off your boat looked like smoke" over and over. So cats can interest the public. They just have to be seen.
