Cats can go great distances (
www.teamseacats.com -
www.tybee500.com). The Tybee 500 (a one week long 523 miles race up the entire east coast of Florida) just finished last week. We do this race on a common Nacra 20 and one Hobie Tiger competed this year. At one time, there was a 1000 mile race up the coast to Virginia that started on 16 foot boats...but that's another story.
Our 20' cats can sustain speeds around 20knots with spinnakers and good wind /sea state. Upwind typical speeds are in the 12 to 15 knot tops. 18' cats w/ spinnakers can see about 18knots of downhill speed with about the same 12 to 15 uphill. A spin rigged 16' cat can accomplish similar speeds.
The furthest I've been offshore on a cat is about 11 or 12 miles. The limit is your desire. Some have crossed the Atlantic ocean.
"Cruising"? Well...you're not going to drink much beer while you are under way and brewing a cup of coffee is out of the question. You can travel places fast but it requires some physical exertion while underway.
Wind dies? Same thing that happens to every other sailboat. You either paddle or crank up an outboard (some have installed small outboards on their cats...although it is not very common).
There is a good deal of sailing around your part of the country.
Beach Launch - probably about 20%...beach launching is what "beach cats" were designed to do best.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamseacats/sets/72157600194459491/