Nikki Henderson on the essential multihull sailing skills you shouldn\u2019t set off without for smooth catamaran or trimaran cruisingThe plan is simple: buy a boat and seek out your best life. You\u2019ve decided you want a multihull, for the space and stability that offers.
\nYour other key requirements are comfort \u2013 a yacht you can live aboard for months \u2013 and a multihull that\u2019s bluewater capable so you can explore wild remote places. It has to be safe, of course. And spacious enough for you, your partner, maybe your kids (and perhaps someone to help look after them sometimes), or a few friends and family. After all, adventures are better shared.
\nBonus items? If the budget allows \u2013 performance, please! A fast boat means less time at sea (critical for keeping the non-sailors happy). Faster means more fun, but also the faster you sail the more flexibility you have for weather routing. So speed equals safety.
\nIf this all sounds familiar, that\u2019s because many Yachting World readers dream of the same thing: a bluewater catamaran, powering through the miles, and the freedom of an endless horizon.
\nEvery year, I work with hundreds of people chasing this dream. And wow, it\u2019s a big project! Most begin with hours upon hours, if not weeks, lost to YouTube and online reviews, comparing boat brands. Once committed, the number of decisions to make and to-do list items explodes.
\nWhat modifications or custom options will you want? Do you want gas or all-electric? How many cabins do you need, and what layout suits you best? What sails do you need? Who to make them? Then there\u2019s electronics, spares, tools, toys, logistics\u2026 and how to leave behind your land life.
\nBuried in logistics and yard work, cruisers often fall into a common trap: time and time again they forget the sailing element.
\nMany new catamaran owners are experienced monohull sailors but new to multihulls. Others charter in the Med a few times a year but have never owned their own boat. Some haven\u2019t sailed in years \u2013 kids and work got in the way. Some, incredibly, are total beginners.
\nArticle continues below\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe best bluewater multihulls of all time: a complete guide<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat are the best bluewater multihulls for long term cruising? The one you own, or the one you can afford\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBest catamaran and multihull: The very best yachts on two and three hulls<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThere are many categories in the\u00a0European Yacht of the Year\u00a0awards, from the\u00a0best\u00a0luxury yachts\u00a0and\u00a0performance yachts\u00a0to the\u00a0best yachts for families and evet\u2026<\/p>\n
So when the boat finally arrives or the jobs list is finished in the yard, most owners are exhausted and over-excited. Their sailing skills are rusty. But, at that point, taking the time to polish up their boat handling is not what they want to do. Understandably, they want to slip lines and go.
\nThe problem is that a lack of skill and confidence can lead to a bumpy first couple of years cruising. The best case scenario \u2013 if they\u2019re lucky \u2013 is that only the boat gets bruised. I\u2019ve seen many boats listed for sale within two years.
\nTwo things matter most to the success of your bluewater experience:<\/p>\n
The brand and model of catamaran you buy
\nYour sailing and cruising skills<\/p>\n
Your skill and confidence will make or break your experience \u2013 and your crew\u2019s too. Here are the 10 top skills to polish before casting off.
\nLeaving or manoeuvring in a marina \u2013 and dealing with twin engines \u2013 is likely to be your first test of handling skills with your new catamaran. Photo: Richard Langdon
\nDocking a catamaran with Twin Engines
\nLeaving the marina is going to be the unavoidable first step. The departure sets the tone. Nail it, and there\u2019ll be a good feeling in the air.
\nTwin engines take some getting used to. First, forget your rudders: lock the helm straight and steer with the engines. Famously, cats can spin on the spot. But it rarely turns out quite as advertised\u2026 high topsides, no keel, and light bows mean your ability to pivot is often negated by windage and drift.
\nOnce you figure out how to use the limitations of a cat to your advantage you\u2019ll love the double engines. Practice is key.
\nCatamaran docking tips<\/p>\n
Stern to wind is your mantra. Keeping the stern facing the wind makes the boat more stable and easier to control.
\nPark in reverse. Stay stern to the wind, and you have better visibility and comms with the aft line handler.
\nSkip the \u2018spin\u2019. Where possible, use a 3\/5\/7-point turn with one engine at a time. It\u2019s simpler, less confusing and thus less risk-prone. And you can keep the boat to windward of the tight space within your turn.
\nUse one hand. Traditionally, driving multihulls was taught with two hands: left hand left throttle; right hand right throttle. Change this to one hand. Then you can move around, twist your torso, see, communicate and park successfully.<\/p>\n
Multihulls are becoming increasingly popular for sailors taking on an Atlantic challenge \u2013 here setting off on the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). Photo: James Mitchell\/WCC
\nWind angles and routing
\nFactory polars can be shocking. \u201c50\u00b0 to windward?! How will I ever get upwind anywhere?\u201d you wonder. Well\u2026 yes\u2026 catamarans are reaching machines. They don\u2019t point well. Daggerboards help a lot with upwind performance. But even then, crack off 10\u00b0 and they fly.
\nDon\u2019t blame your tools. Learn how to use them. So how to best leverage this?
\nSail more miles, faster. Cracked off = big speed gains. Sometimes you can still reach a windward destination faster than a monohull of similar length by using this technique.
\nWait it out. If a shift is coming in the next few days, consider delaying your departure. Then enjoy a fast few hours of downwind sailing, rather than the 10 hours slog you initially signed up for.
\nDon\u2019t pinch \u2013 it doesn\u2019t work. Accept your angles and see if you can outsmart your own plan. If you do ever see a cat pinching, don\u2019t be fooled. They will be using the engine for assistance.
\nMultihulls are weight sensitive so try to keep heavy items central and low. Leading anchor chain aft away from the bows is prudent. Photo: GLY
\nWeight management
\nCats are wider, roomier, and generally have more space for more stuff (much of which you probably don\u2019t need). But they are also lighter, and more weight sensitive. All this means there is a lot to consider when it comes to stowage.
\nIf you are a monohull sailor, be prepared to pay just as much, if not more attention to how much and where you add extra weight on board.
\nCatamarans are typically lighter displacement than a monohull of equivalent length, and so extra weight on board will have a greater impact. And, unlike a monohull which relies on its keel for stability, a catamaran relies on its beam. Therefore, loading the catamaran with weight aloft, or not distributing it evenly across both hulls, will make it more prone to heeling and reduce its stability.
\nWhat to do<\/p>\n
Live minimally. Be ruthless about what comes aboard. Once \u2018stuff\u2019 (the usual culprits are extra kitchen equipment, doubled-up tools and spares, shoes you never wear, water toys you never use) comes aboard, you will feel a sense of \u2018loss\u2019 to take it off. Save yourself the grief, and never let it on.
\nKeep the ends light. I know they are roomy and no one sleeps there. But they are empty for a reason! Weight needs to be central, and low. Consider storing the outboard motor off the tender and use bow lockers for light gear only.
\nBalance port and starboard. One hull shouldn\u2019t carry your whole life. Check from astern on a calm day that your boat isn\u2019t listing.<\/p>\n
Reefing early is vitally important with a catamaran. Photo: Marianne Urth
\nReefing a multihull
\nCats don\u2019t spill any power via heeling. They just power up, until they flip. And that is why reefing is key. Reef proactively. Set strict wind speed reefing thresholds (lots of manufacturers recommend these).
\nBut don\u2019t be afraid to err on the more cautious side, as the guidelines rarely take into account sea state.
\nMultihull reefing tips<\/p>\n
Topping lift! No vang means the boom drops hard onto the roof without it.
\nMainsails don\u2019t drop easily. There is a lot of friction due to full battens compressing mast cars, and probably a 2:1 halyard. Consider using downhauls on the luff or upgrading mast cars to ones with roller bearings and using the reefing line to coax the sail down. If all else fails, you can change course upwind but be cautious of the increased apparent wind when you do that.<\/p>\n
Keeping weight out of the ends is key for sailing performance. Photo: GLY
\nDepowering a multihull
\nAs aforementioned, gusts don\u2019t spill power on a cat \u2013 they load it up. Multihulls can take a lot, but the line between everything being fine and not fine is sudden. You need a fast, simple depowering setup in case of any unexpected gusts or squalls.
\nThe previous advice was to reef early \u2013 but we aren\u2019t always good at that. So you need a plan if you get caught out and miss the window of opportunity to reef.
\nMultihull depowering tips<\/p>\n
Active sheets. Keep these on winches with the clutches open \u2013 always the mainsheet and headsail\/spinnaker sheet.
\nTraveller dump. The windward traveller line should also be ready to dump. In a gust, this can be your first move because it\u2019s in the cockpit where you also are likely to be.
\nBear away. Go for a quick bear away as soon as you\u2019ve depowered the sails to reduce the apparent wind. Practice hand-steering this.
\nTurn downwind fast. Quickly straighten the helm the moment you don\u2019t feel the wind on your windward cheek.
\nDaggerboards. Keep the leeward daggerboard line on a winch ready to quickly raise it to avoid tripping.
\nDepowering. For kites and gennakers, set up quick-release tack systems for instant depowering.<\/p>\n
Catamaran sailing is all about the fun \u2013especially downwind, when properly set up. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot
\nDownwind sails
\nCats sail downwind like a dream, so it\u2019s time to embrace that. You\u2019ll be especially thankful for your and your crew\u2019s proficiency with the spinnaker or Code 0 when the winds soften and you have a long ocean passage ahead of you.
\nAny monohull sailors might underestimate the gains to be made by flying downwind sails. But a few knots can make a big difference over 3,000 miles. Anyway, you are out of excuses! Cats are stable, the bow is safe \u2013 and with its big soft nets, it\u2019s even kind to your knees. There\u2019s no justification for not going up there and giving this a go.
\nDownwind catamaran tips<\/p>\n
Practice the drop. If you know you can get it down, you overcome the fear of putting it up. This might include using socks, furlers, or a traditional drop to douse the offwind sails. Nail them all!
\nOptimise your systems. Make hoisting, flying and dropping these intimidating sails easier \u2013 reroute lines if needed, add Martin Breakers (a quick-trip shackle to release tack line under load) and use electric winches if that helps smooth
\nthe routine.
\nLearn the angles. The more you understand about what wind strengths and angles your sails love, the more likely you\u2019ll be to fly them. Get as much data as possible, or a sail crossover chart from your sailmaker. And also keep a good log and note your own numbers.<\/p>\n
No excuses to go without a kite. Photo: Saskia Stainer-Hutchins
\nFeedback cues
\nWe\u2019ve all been there. You go off watch with the boat sailing peacefully in 10-15 knots. And you wake up having fallen out of bed, the boat heeled over hard, in 20 knots upwind. You will now reminisce on those days with fondness. As a catamaran sailor, you are going to have to master the art of subtlety. Specifically, interpreting less obvious feedback that the boat is overpowered or underpowered.
\nTips for tuning in<\/p>\n
Use the instruments. But don\u2019t use them in isolation. Boat speed and wind speed tell you a lot and it\u2019s critical to respond to them with reefing (see point No4). However, you can also sense a few degrees of heel, a change in acceleration, or a shift in pressure with your body. The less reliant you are on instruments and the more intuitive your relationship is with the boat, the safer you will be.
\nUse your hearing! Listen for slamming, rig hum, and the frequency of the wave slap.
\nLog what you \u2018feel\u2019. Log regularly and include wider information so you can look back and compare. For example, if a few weeks ago you were happily eating dinner with no reefs in the main, what\u2019s different this time? The sea state? Your fatigue? Intuition?
\nPower down early. Comfort trumps speed on cruising boats 99% of the time (which can be hard to adapt to for successful, driven people). But remember the dream \u2013 it\u2019s usually a version of \u2018slowing down\u2019.<\/p>\n
Living the bluewater dream, anchored in an idyllic spot \u2013 and catamarans can drop the hook in relatively shallow water. Photo: Robin Christol\/GLY
\nManoeuvres
\nTwo hulls change things when it comes to manoeuvres: tacking is slow, gybing is violent. You need to get comfortable with it all.
\nIt\u2019s not uncommon to find catamaran sailors who avoid manoeuvres at night. That\u2019s great in theory \u2013 until you sail into a wind hole, or want to avoid a squall, or need to miss a cargo ship. Really every bluewater sailor needs to know how to complete manoeuvres in all conditions, at any time of day.
\nUpwind Manoeuvres
\nBuild up speed before the tack and use it to carry you through. Remember, angles are wider and the turn may well be more than 100\u00b0.
\nIf you have them, and they aren\u2019t already down, drop both daggerboards to the same level. It gives you some grip during the turn.
\nBack the jib through the tack if needed (unless it\u2019s self-tacking, in which case get creative with a handybilly or extra control line).
\nDownwind Manoeuvres
\nWith a square top, big roach and full battened mainsail, gybing can be exciting. The main needs a lot of control through the gybe. Centre the traveller and make sure it\u2019s locked off on both sides, tighten up the mainsheet, gybe \u2013 then control the sheet to dampen the slam when it flips to the other tack.
\nA remote-controlled windlass will be a big help when retrieving and viewing your anchor tackle, while headsets help maintain communication with the helm. Photo: Saskia Stainer-Hutchins
\nCatamaran anchoring
\nMost cruisers are at anchor about 80% of the time, even if they are \u2018sailing around the world\u2019! It\u2019s a critical skill, and a core element of living the dream.
\nBut in order to spend your days swimming off the back of the boat or enjoying serene sunset cocktails on the bow \u2013 and to comfortably sleep, make repairs, and live on the hook \u2013 you need to be able to anchor confidently, reliably and securely.
\nMaking sure the hook is properly set will ensure a more relaxing time in that idyllic anchorage. Photo: Kinetic Catamarans
\nCatamaran anchoring skills<\/p>\n
Set it properly. Use 3-7 times the depth. Reverse hard on it (1,500-2,000rpm) \u2013 better to drag and find out it\u2019s not holding now, rather than at 3am.
\nFind space. Choose a spot with not too many boats around. If there are, make sure they\u2019re catamarans too as similar hull shapes swing similarly. Resist the temptation to be too close to the beach in the crowds (instead, get a fast tender and learn how to use it).
\nAlways use a bridle. If it isn\u2019t already set up, attach a mooring line of identical length to each bow cleat and tie both to the chain in the same place with a prussick knot or rolling hitch.
\nFloat the chain. Learn to float the chain in preparation for the reef-laden anchorages of French Polynesia or other heavenly spots. Use a couple of traditional heavy plastic fenders at about 10m increments.
\nShorelines. Know how to set up a shoreline to control your swing. This will open up the tighter anchorages, or the deeper ones, which can be beautiful. Anchor as normal and then head ashore with a long line and tie it to something stable like a tree or a rock.<\/p>\n
Photo: Lagoon Catamarans
\nEnjoy the comfort
\nSometimes sailors can be a bit masochistic. Let that go. This dream involves two hulls \u2013 it\u2019s time to get comfortable.
\nBefore departure, try to relax. You don\u2019t need to prep every meal in advance and psychologically prepare yourself for beyond three or four days of the usual motion sickness. Instead, think about activities to keep everyone busy and entertained.
\nYou can cook, bake, eat, sleep, do yoga, workout, learn the guitar, or dance while underway (yes, I\u2019ve done all of the above). This is a lifestyle.
\nJust one thing to remember: when sailing downwind the wind funnels through the saloon, so card games don\u2019t work so well. Everything else? Go for it.
\nI feel so lucky to have spent so much time around people making this dream into their reality. It\u2019s inspiring to see people brave enough to go after more from their life. So if you want to make that dream last you\u2019ll need to invest in the skills to make it work. Docking, reefing, routing, anchoring \u2013 mastering these techniques will add a layer of safety, confidence and ease to your experience.<\/p>\n
If you enjoyed this\u2026.<\/p>\n
Yachting World is the world\u2019s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams.<\/p>\n
Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.<\/p>\n
Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/p>\n
The post 10 essential multihull sailing skills you need to know appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nikki Henderson on the essential multihull sailing skills you shouldn\u2019t set off without for smooth catamaran or trimaran cruisingThe plan is simple: buy a boat and seek out your best life. You\u2019ve decided you want a multihull, for the space … <\/p>\n