I am thinking about getting into the A class cat. I currently sail monohulls like lasers, force 5's, and 420/470's- that kind of stuff. So my question is, why do you guys sail multihulls? What intrigues me most is the obvious speed. But what else is so great about cats? Fellow monohullers have told me to stay away from catamarans, and that the speed alone can get boring as you get used to it- what do you guys have to say about that? What are some tradeoffs? I like the comprably light weight, easy transport and storage, and maneuverability of monohulls, what would I be giving up by getting a cat?
thank,
-Nick

If you go with something like an A, you won't miss much. If anything, that boat will put you on your toes sooooooo fast it would make your head spin. An A cat will go uphill faster and at the same angle as any mono you've ever sailed. They are VERY agile and VERY tunable.

One of the things I noticed when moving from mono's to cats was the tune ability of the sails. There is soooo much more you can do to the rig on the water when compared to a dingy.

The tactics are similar but different. You have to make FAST decisions as you will be crossing boats at a MUCH greater rate of speed. You can never relax b/c be assured that nobody else is.

The mono guys always told me that cat sailors were not tactically good and just relied on speed. Well, that's not true. You have to be an athlete and good tactically. Speed is your friend, but if you're going fast in the wrong way... it's your enemy too!

Sit down. Get your honey to bring you a six pack and tray of sandwiches. You're gonna be here a while.

Personally? Sheer joy and simplicity! The speed is probably third or fourth down the line. Flying a hull in steady breeze, for a long distance (a mile or more), must be like soaring.

My absolute, all time favorite memory, is sailing a H-16 at sunset in two feet of water, making MAYBE one knot, and watching a whole school of Redfish slip between the hulls. They didn't pay me the least attention. I could have reached down and touched them.

Cats are just fun, as are most things with sails but for some reason the feeling of hanging out on a trapeze, with a hull almost to that point of no return. You are literally 12 feet off the water almost, granted this isn't fast but it feels good.

Also I love it when I am putting the boat in and little kids look at it and are just amazed. It is so different.

It is pretty easy to single hand a 17 foot cat and to move it around on the land but I owuld hate to try to move a 17 foot mono on the land alone.

Lets rephrase it:"What will you be giving up by getting a cat?"

1. No more sitting on the centerboard trunk.
2. No more crunches to keep the boat flat.
3. No more tippy boat. You can moor it on the water at lunch break and it won't capsize.
4. Did I mention no more tippy boat? 50% of your brain power isn't tied up with being moveable ballast. Never worry about the death roll again. Heave to your catamaran and enjoy the trampoline.
5. Mono-slugs have limited options for vmg downwind. Most don't have the option of going for the high heat.

6. Leaving the kids on the beach because the laser won't carry them.

One point to note is: What do you plan on doing? Racing or pleasure. There is a good mix of both types of people here and of course, opinions will vary with their preferred sailing style.

Light weight, speed, tactics (yes, there are a lot of tactics - they are just slightly different at 15 knots vs. 4 knots), technology (square top sails, rotating wing masts, incredible range of sail adjustment), very shallow draft, beachability, the trapeze, maneuverability....

Negatives; monohull sailor prejuidice at some clubs <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Why do I love cats, let me count the ways....
Speed of course. Roominess - I'm a big guy, I don't end up with all kinds of bruises like on a monohull of similar length. Stability - it's nice to go and float about in light winds and just enjoy being on the water. Trapezing - lets you see the whole boat, is comfortable, and just plain fun. Wild Thing - makes downwind as intense as upwind if not more so. Oh, and, the speed.

Why do I sail cats...

Millions of reasons...

Sailed them since I was 12 (helming) and grew up with the speed.

Went to uni and had to sail monoslugs (good for team racing) but slow and boring for round the cans. What you have been told about cats it partly true, we do not tack on every shift; because of the speed of our boats we have to think about it. I remember sailing at college with some top sailors of today and I asked "do you tack on every shift?" "oh, yes, you cat boys don't do tactics do you..", my reply was "not so sure, we think about tacking, and then tack on those that will make us distance, we have to evaluate the shifts". I actually found the mono sailing less tactical as you just tack on 99.9% of shifts whereas on a cat (that might be doing 15kts up wind and 25+ downwind), you need to think about it first.

You will encounter people who don't like cats, just get out there and enjoy it !

Don't fear the speed,,, fear the ADDICTION !!!!!!!!!

Nick, I was the same way. Except on a larger scale. I was a dingy sailor (Lasers, 4twinkies, Flying Scots, Melges 24's J80's etc). I was crewing on a J105 when an F25C with three kids all under nine, two dogs, and a single adult went screaming past us with a chute up haveing a great time. The owner's wife said that looked like more fun...long story short, the 105 is up for sale and the owner now has an F28R, go to www.strategery.com to get an idea. This started one year ago last may. The sailing is incredible, super driver intensive, and sail trim shows imediately. You can fine tune a Laser cunningham all you want, but an inch on a downhaul on a 28ft tri shows more than a Laser adjustment EVER WILL. The tactics are even more important, you pick the wrong shift on a Laser you might lose ten yards at 4 knots, you pick the wrong shift on a 28ft tri going 14 knots upwind, you lose the race. Driving a cat downwind is far more mind stretching than driving a Laser or Flying Scot downwind. This spring when it came time for me to buy a boat for myself I really really wanted a Laser, found a good used one with trailer for $3500.00. I also found a Nacra 6.0 Express (squaretop main, big jib, fourteen foot bowsprit with a 480 sq ft kite) for $3500.00. So, you guessed it, I bought the cat. Now me and the little woman are blasting around the bay at speeds in the teens and twentys, hanging on the double traps, having the best time ever. I can out point the monohulls on either the tri or the cat, out sail 'em, do a 9 mile race in 49 minutes where it takes the monos 2 hours. Look on the website I mentioned, I was totally against the owner going multi, now.....I am learning a whole new aspect of the sport I never dreamed. craig

I have $5 I know who that was...... lol

Nothing has brought me more joy than sailing a catamaran

I sail cats because I cant spell yaughts er yots er yatchs (ohh damn)

From a pleasure sailing perspective, you can blast around the water on one hull when the wind is blowing or, when the wind is less than 10 kts, you can still go sailing. It's not as fast, but you can still get out on the water and not just bob around.

Just think about the design behind cats and monos. For a given length the boats weigh about the same. The cat can handle more sail area and can remove half of their hull area from the water.

Then, there is the cool factor. Cats just have that extra nostalgia. You will also notice that cat sailors are always ready to help you. Even if you are racing against them they will still help you tune your boat. You will not find a friendlier group of sailors anywhere.

That is one of the funniest things I've heard. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

GARY

And it's heard more often than you migh think...

Try sailing to Martha's Vineyard just for lunch on your mono! Sailed back trapped out on a reach for a good 14 of th 16 miles. Couldn't wipe that smile off my face for at least a week! Oh! And what Popeye said!

For the women!

Where is it you sail again?