Hello all, I am new to cat sailing although I have been sailing monos and tri's most my life. I recently purchased a pristine Nacra 5.0. I have been out in it about 10 times so far and I've realized that I am in need of suggestions when it comes to hiking. I've having difficulty finding places for my feet to secure to when I'm hiking inboard (feet not out on the hulls). I was thinking of some taught lines running over the tramp. What do you all think?

I put a brand new tramp on the boat and after 3 sails the stitching is starting to come out of the straps because I dont think they were ment to hike off of.

Also, When I'm completely out on trap, how do most of you keep your feet planted? I was thinking of installing some foot straps.

Let me know.

I'd love to get together with some more expirienced sailors in the New England area. I may make it out to some races it time permits. Let me know.

-Jeff

Jeff, Welcome to the great sport of catsailing! Chek out www.fleet448.org and www.hobie-div12.org . Check out the links, and you can find plenty of generous, and experienced folks to sail with. 448 is a Hobie Fleet, but has a number of open events. At the Division 12 site you'll find links for the Nacra Fleet, and New England Catamaran Sailing Association. Lots of really fun folks, and terrific events! Brian, Fleet 448, and Team Goose (fun sailing at Gooseberry Island/Neck)

You should have hiking straps on your trampoline for that purpose. You can kinda see them here on the Team Seacats I20:



CLick for larger size

Jake, what's in the bug sprayer? Inquiring minds want to know...

Fresh water to rinse the blocks and traveler so that salt won't build up and gum up the works.

Either that, or he's buying Sailcote in bulk! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I thought it might be some sort of fancy South Carolina beer keg.....

You can save your hiking straps by hooking in on the trapeze and just putting your butt over the side. The hiking straps on cats are not nearly strong enough to handle full time hiking.

Gotta' kill those pesky sand fleas, otherwise, they crawl all over the tramp and once in your "trapeeze harness", well .....

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The spray jug is full of baby oil, he sprays it on all the other boat's tramps, and on his crew at night, not that there's anything wrong with that... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Super Double Secret Go Fast Gooo.