When we got our first catamaran, a Shark, back in 1961 or so, my father actually took the rudders completely off the boat and sailed it all over the place with no rudders. He did it to prove how well balanced the boat and its sail plan was.

I think everyone should practice sailing with their rudders up (taking them off completely is a little radical). It gives you a new appreciation for how much more influential the sails and weight distribution are than are those relatively tiny rudders in the back of the boat. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Granted, it is a LOT easier to do with a sloop rig than with a uni-rig. I guess you would have to throw your weight around a whole lot more with a uni-rig.

They do have that class of cats in Europe (Patin a Vela, I think) that race and do not have any rudders. I would think you have to be very athletic, because it is all in the weight distribution.