can catamarans sail upwind

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How A Boat Sails Upwind

By: Zeke Quezada, ASA Learn To Sail , Sailing Tips

 A sailor’s life revolves around the wind. Its direction and its strength govern where he can sail, with what degree of difficulty or comfort, and how quickly. Naturally, the language of sailing reflects how sailors orient themselves and everything around them with reference to the wind.

Upwind and Downwind  

The sailor’s world is roughly divided into two hemispheres: upwind and downwind. anywhere or anything in the direction from which the wind is blowing is upwind; anywhere or anything in the direction toward which it’s blowing is downwind. 

When sailing, you trim the sails according to the wind direction relative to the boat. As you learn to sail, the all-important “points of sail” become second nature. When you are out on the water, you’ll be constantly aware of them as the wind changes and as your course changes. You will continually fine-tune the trim of your sails to suit the degree to which you are sailing upwind or downwind. 

By understanding the points of sail and their implications on crew comfort and sail trim, the helmsman and the crew will be able to work together to move the boat efficiently to any destination they choose. 

Sailing Close-hauled  

You sail close-hauled on the very edge of the no-sail-zone — making your best speed toward a destination to windward. This involves a balancing act between boat speed and your course, or angle to the wind. For most boats, that angle is about 45 degrees to the true-wind direction, but it varies with the design of the boat, the shape of the sails (both their geometry and physical condition), and the strength of the wind. 

If you attempt to sail a course above close-hauled, or closer to the wind, the sails will no longer deliver full power and the boat will slow down. Sailing a course below close-hauled (or footing off), would be faster but, if your destination is upwind, you would not be making as much progress toward it. Close-hauled is that happy confluence of speed and course that brings the boat upwind with maximum efficiency. Many sailors find close-hauled the most enjoyable point of sail. The wind (this is the apparent wind, remember) will feel the strongest in the crews faces, while the boat bounces along merrily over the waves (maybe sending a bit of spray-on deck) heeling more than on any other point of sail. All of this adds to the exhilaration and fun of sailing. 

Start on a beam reach and head up about 45 degrees. Concurrently trim the jib sheet tightly (but not rock hard). Trim the mainsail to the point that its luff just stops bubbling. The boom will lie a little off centerline. experiment with small changes to the trim of both sails — it’s a fine art!

Steering is especially important when sailing close-hauled because with the sails pulled in tight there’s no more to trim in. The driver must be constantly adjusting course to any shifts of wind.

Telltales, short dark yarns or nylon strips streaming on the jib a foot or two back from the luff are an excellent closehauled steering aid.

Except in very light winds, when the boat is barely moving, the helmsman, whether using a tiller or a wheel, should always sit on the windward side for visibility and control. When you’re steering just a little too close to the wind, or pinching, the warning signs are obvious: The jib begins to luff at its leading edge, signaling your entry into the no-sail zone. 

When you steer just slightly lower than your optimum close-hauled course, the sails will look full but you are no longer making your best speed to windward. Get in the groove! Concentrate on steering as close to the wind as possible without causing that small luff in the front of the jib with its associated loss of speed.

So now you’re in the groove, but don’t get too comfortable. You’re trying to get to windward, and there’s only one way to get there and that’s by a series of changes in course.

Tacking — Getting From Zig to Zag and Back  

A sailboat cannot make any forward progress directly into the wind. When you tried to sail too close to the wind, the sails simply flapped and you lost headway. You may even have put the boat in irons. To reach a destination directly upwind, you have to sail a zigzag course. each leg of the zigzag will be approximately 45 degrees away from the direct line between your starting point and your destination. Think of climbing up a mountain on a trail with a series of switchbacks. This means at some point, you have to get from your zig course to your zag course, which is on the other side of the no-sail zone.

Tacking Defined

When you turn the boat so that its bow passes entirely through the wind — that is, through the no-sail zone — that’s called tacking. The word tack gets a bit of a workout here, just as you will when you tack the boat. 

When the boat is sailing with the wind blowing on the starboard side, it’s on starboard tack, and when the wind is blowing on the port side, the moving sailboat is on port tack. To reach a destination directly toward the wind, you have to sail, using the steering skills you just learned, part of the way close-hauled on starboard tack and part of the way close-hauled on port tack. To bring the boat from close-hauled on starboard tack to close-hauled on port tack, you must pass through the no-sail zone — you have to tack. 

Tack, Tacking, And Tacks 

Where do the apparently multiple meanings of “tack” come from? An old-time square sail was supported along its top by a horizontal spar, or yard, and had control lines on the bottom two corners. When sailing closehauled, one of those corners was hauled forward and down, and was therefore the tack of the sail, and the other was hauled aft. If the wind was on the starboard side, the starboard corner was the tack — starboard tack. To go from sailing with the wind on the ship’s starboard side to sailing with it on the port side, the crew had to literally change tacks. 

Of course, we also use the term coming about to mean tacking. 

Sailing Upwind

The ability of a modern sailboat to sail close-hauled, sometimes even closer than 40 degrees to the wind’s direction, is due to the boat’s design and the shape of its sails and the forces they generate.

Lift, Drag, and Leeway  

The net sum of the forces in play (sail, keel, and rudder) is the forward motion we enjoy. the wind blowing over the airfoil-shaped sails creates a forward force in the form of aerodynamic lift arising from the pressure difference between the windward and leeward sides of the sails. It also creates the sideways force that causes heeling and, even when the forces are in balance and the boat is steering “straight,” a small amount of leeway. 

The hull and keel resist motion, both forward and sideways, because of their inherent drag, but once moving forward, the keel, because of the leeway, is at an angle to the water flow. In just the same way as the rudder generates lift when turned, the keel generates an additional forward force from its hydrodynamic lift. 

When the forces are balanced, the boat sails in a straight line but with a few degrees of leeway. however, because of the frequent variations in the wind’s strength and the effect of waves on the hull and keel, this balance is hard to achieve simply with sail trim. the rudder provides the turning force that corrects for changes in the balance. 

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Why Can’t Catamarans Sail Upwind? (The Surprising Answer)

Have you ever wondered why catamarans cant sail upwind? This article will explore the surprising answer, as well as the pros and cons of catamarans, the physics behind their inability to sail upwind, and how to maximize efficiency when sailing a catamaran.

Well also discuss different types of catamarans and their sailing characteristics, as well as some common misconceptions about catamarans.

Read on to discover the fascinating answer to why catamarans cant sail upwind!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

Catamarans are typically powered by two hulls and a shallow draft, which makes them less efficient at sailing upwind.

Since they don’t have a keel, they don’t have the same stability as a monohull and can’t sail as close to the wind.

Additionally, their large wetted surface area and wide beam create drag, making them less efficient when going upwind.

Finally, they are often heavier than monohulls, making it harder to sail upwind.

What is a Catamaran?

A catamaran is a type of boat that utilizes two hulls connected by a trampoline. This design allows them to be incredibly stable in the water, making them ideal for recreational sailing activities. However, their design also has a major limitation: they cannot sail upwind.

The issue is related to the two hulls and the trampoline connecting them.

The two hulls create a larger surface area than a traditional monohull boat, which causes more drag when moving through the water.

This drag makes it harder for the catamaran to move forward, especially when it is trying to sail upwind.

Additionally, the trampoline connecting the two hulls is not very efficient at powering through the water, as it does not generate enough lift to keep the boat moving forward.

As a result, catamarans are limited in their ability to sail upwind.

The Pros and Cons of Catamarans

When it comes to recreational sailing, catamarans have become increasingly popular due to their stability and ease of maneuverability.

They are great for day trips or longer cruises, as they provide comfortable seating areas, storage space, and plenty of open deck space.

However, while catamarans have many advantages, they also have some limitations.

One of the most notable is their inability to sail upwind.

The reason for this comes down to the design of catamarans, which typically have two hulls connected by a trampoline.

This design is less efficient in terms of powering through the water, and creates a larger surface area and more drag, making it harder for the catamaran to move forward in the direction it is facing.

Additionally, catamarans tend to be wider than monohulls, which makes them more difficult to turn in tight spaces.

Despite these limitations, catamarans still have many advantages over monohulls.

For one, they are generally more stable, which makes them better suited for recreational sailing.

Additionally, their two hulls provide more room and storage space, making them great for longer trips or for entertaining guests.

Finally, their shallow draft makes them ideal for navigating shallow waters, as well as for beaching or docking in tight spaces.

Overall, it is important to consider both the pros and cons of catamarans when deciding whether or not they are the right type of boat for you.

While they may not be able to sail upwind, they are still great boats for recreational sailing and can offer a safe and comfortable experience.

What Makes Catamarans Difficult to Sail Upwind?

When it comes to sailing, catamarans have become increasingly popular due to their relatively stable platforms and ease of maneuverability.

However, one limitation of catamarans is their inability to sail upwind.

This is because catamarans have two hulls that are typically connected by a trampoline, which makes them less efficient in terms of powering through the water.

Additionally, the two hulls create a larger surface area, which creates more drag, making it harder for the catamaran to move forward.

The reason why catamarans struggle to sail upwind is due to the fact that their hulls are not designed to create lift.

Unlike monohulls, which are designed to create lift, catamarans rely on their two hulls pushing against the water to create forward motion.

This means that the catamaran relies heavily on momentum to move forward, and is unable to effectively generate lift when sailing upwind.

The additional drag created by the two hulls also makes catamarans difficult to sail upwind.

Since the two hulls are connected by a trampoline, this creates a larger surface area for the wind to push against.

This extra drag reduces the catamarans ability to generate lift and makes it much more difficult to sail upwind.

Finally, the stability provided by the two hulls can also make it difficult to sail upwind.

Since the two hulls are connected by a trampoline, this provides a stable platform for the catamaran to sail on.

However, this stability can make it harder to sail upwind as it reduces the catamarans ability to maneuver in the wind.

In order to effectively sail upwind, catamarans must be able to quickly change direction in order to stay in the wind.

This is much harder to do when sailing on a stable platform.

In conclusion, catamarans have become increasingly popular for recreational sailing due to their relatively stable platforms and ease of maneuverability.

The lack of lift generated by the two hulls, the additional drag created by the trampoline, and the stability provided by the two hulls all contribute to the difficulty of sailing catamarans upwind.

The Physics Behind the Inability of Catamarans to Sail Upwind

When it comes to sailing, catamarans have long been considered to be a less efficient choice for sailing upwind.

This is because of the physics of catamarans, and the way their two hulls interact with the water.

The two hulls of a catamaran create a wider surface area than a monohull, which means that the catamaran encounters more drag when sailing.

This drag is caused by the two hulls of the catamaran pushing through the water, creating more friction than a monohull would.

This makes it more difficult for the catamaran to move forward and sail upwind.

Additionally, the two hulls of a catamaran are typically connected by a trampoline, which is a flexible platform that creates even more drag.

This trampoline allows the catamaran to be more maneuverable, but it also creates more drag on the catamaran, making it even more difficult for the catamaran to sail upwind.

Finally, the two hulls of a catamaran create a larger surface area than a monohull, meaning that the catamaran has more wetted surface area.

This wetted surface area creates more friction, which further reduces the catamaran’s ability to sail upwind.

These physical limitations of catamarans mean that they are not as efficient when sailing upwind as a monohull.

While catamarans can still sail upwind, they are not as efficient as monohulls, and so most sailors opt for a monohull when sailing upwind.

How to Maximize Efficiency While Sailing a Catamaran

Sailing a catamaran can be a thrilling experience, but it is important to remember that catamarans are not as efficient as a single-hulled boat when it comes to sailing upwind.

The two hulls create more drag, which makes it harder for the catamaran to move forward.

To maximize efficiency and make the most of your sailing time, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you are getting the best performance from your catamaran.

First, it is important to make sure the sails are properly set.

This means that the sails should be adjusted to the wind direction to ensure that they are catching the most wind possible.

Additionally, the sails should be set at the correct angle to ensure they are not creating too much drag.

Lastly, make sure the halyards are taut and that the sails are properly trimmed.

Second, inspect the hulls to ensure they are in good condition.

Even the slightest crack or dent can create drag and decrease the efficiency of the vessel.

Make sure that the trampoline is also secure and free of any tears or holes.

Third, pay attention to the weight of the boat.

As with any other type of boat, the heavier the boat is, the more difficult it is to move through the water.

To combat this, make sure that all unnecessary items are removed from the boat and that the crew is evenly distributed between the two hulls.

Finally, practice sailing your catamaran in various conditions.

The more time you spend on the water, the more you will understand the nuances of sailing a catamaran and how to maximize its efficiency.

With enough practice, you will be able to efficiently sail your catamaran upwind, even if it is not as efficient as a single-hulled boat.

Different Types of Catamarans and their Sailing Characteristics

Catamarans come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs, and each offers unique advantages and disadvantages when it comes to sailing.

Generally speaking, the larger the catamaran, the more efficient it is in sailing upwind, though this is still limited compared to a monohull boat.

Smaller catamarans, on the other hand, tend to be less efficient when sailing upwind, as their two hulls create more drag than a monohull boat.

Additionally, the design of the catamaran can affect its upwind sailing capabilities, as some catamarans are designed with a V-shaped hull that helps reduce drag.

For recreational sailing, smaller catamarans are most popular due to their relatively stable platforms and ease of maneuverability.

These catamarans are typically connected by a trampoline, which makes them less efficient in terms of powering through the water.

This is why catamarans are unable to sail upwind as well as monohull boats.

That said, catamarans have several advantages when it comes to sailing.

For one, they are more stable than monohulls, making them an ideal choice for leisurely sailing and ocean cruising.

Additionally, catamarans tend to be faster than monohulls , as their two hulls provide more surface area and less drag.

This makes them a great choice for racing and other performance sailing.

In summary, catamarans are a great choice for recreational sailing due to their stability and maneuverability.

However, their two hulls create a larger surface area, which creates more drag, making it harder for the catamaran to move forward.

That said, they have several advantages when it comes to sailing, making them a great choice for leisurely sailing and ocean cruising.

Common Misconceptions About Catamarans

When it comes to sailing, catamarans are often misunderstood.

Many sailors assume that catamarans are unable to sail upwind because of their two hulls, but this is not the case.

In fact, many catamarans are designed with a sail plan that allows them to sail upwind just as efficiently as a monohull.

The key is understanding the unique characteristics of catamarans and how to make the most of them.

For starters, catamarans typically have less wetted hull area than a monohull, which means they can move through the water more easily.

Additionally, the two hulls of a catamaran offer more stability than a monohull.

This allows a catamaran to make sharper turns and tack more quickly, making it more efficient in upwind sailing.

Another misconception about catamarans is that they are slower than monohulls.

This is simply not true.

While catamarans may not be able to reach the same top speed as a monohull, they can still achieve a very respectable speed in both upwind and downwind sailing.

The key is understanding the wind and water conditions and how to use them to your advantage.

Finally, many people assume that catamarans are difficult to sail.

This is not the case, as catamarans can be sailed just as easily as a monohull.

The key is understanding the basics of sailing and learning how to make the most of the unique characteristics of catamarans.

With a little practice and experience, anyone can become an expert catamaran sailor.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it! Catamarans are a great option for recreational sailing, but they have one major limitation: they cannot sail upwind. This is due to the physics behind their design, including their two hulls that create more drag and their trampoline that makes them less efficient in powering through the water. With this knowledge, you can now make the most of your catamaran sailing experience by choosing the right type of catamaran for your needs and using the right techniques to maximize your sailing efficiency. So get out there and make the most of your sailing experience!

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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Why Do Catamarans Can’t Sail Upwind? – Here Are The Main Reasons!

Catamarans are known for their speed and stability, making them popular choices for both racing and cruising. However, many sailors wonder why can’t catamarans sail close to the wind.

To understand this peculiar behavior, it’s essential to examine the design factors and sailing techniques used with these unique vessels.

The primary reason catamarans have difficulty sailing upwind is their lack of a keel and shallow draft, which affects their stability and overall efficiency.

Additionally, other design features such as lateral resistance, apparent wind generation, and sheeting angle further contribute to this challenge. However, with the right knowledge and techniques, catamaran sailors can still navigate close to the wind successfully.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Some catamarans struggle to sail close to the wind due to several design factors.
• Lack of a keel and shallow draft contribute to reduced upwind efficiency
• Advanced techniques can help catamaran sailors navigate close to the wind successfully

Do All Catamarans Sail The Same Way?

Production catamarans come in a wide range of configurations, from spacious cruising models to high-performance racers. People often wonder, do all catamarans sail the same way? Let’s delve into the topic, focusing on production sailing catamarans.

Production Sailing Catamarans: Comfort vs Performance

Some do, and some don’t focus on production sailing catamarans for comfort versus performance. All vessels, including your catamaran, are designed for a particular mission. Some catamarans prioritize high-performance sailing, while others focus on comfort, load-carrying ability, and sailing in rougher weather.

Cruising vs Racing Catamarans:

Your widely marketed cruising catamaran is designed with massive interior space, living areas, and wide hulls, allowing walk-around berths and keeping the deck very level on most points of sailing for your comfort, even when heeled at an angle that others may find unpleasant.

In contrast, the high-performance boat you are considering has daggerboards that, like on most mono-hulls, greatly reduce sideways slipping to adjust performance and allow anchoring in shallow water.

These boats have very narrow hulls, providing far less resistance through the water, allowing you to sail closer to the wind and at higher speeds.

High-performance Catamaran

Cruising Catamaran

Cruising Catamaran Keels:

The stub keels on most cruising catamarans do not require constant adjusting of daggerboard depth for different points of sailing or boat speed and allow your catamaran to sit on the beach or land without support. They require less maintenance than daggerboards but provide less sailing performance than a high-performance design.

Sailing Performance:

Each designer has optimized each catamaran model for a specific market segment focused on either comfort, speed, or compromise. You can choose the design that best matches your priorities. Catamarans generally sail faster when sailed at angles over 60-70 degrees away from the wind, but many cannot match the close-hauled performance of specialized racing monohulls and performance catamarans. You must research each design to understand its windward capabilities.

Sailing Instruments:

Modern sailing instruments on your catamaran can display both true wind speed and angle, as well as apparent wind speed, accounting for the boat’s motion. This allows you to optimize your sail trim for maximum velocity made good toward your destination under different conditions.

Comparing Monohulls and Catamarans:

While many monohulls sail better windward than cruising catamarans, high-performance cats can match specialized racing monos in a blow. You must consider your priorities, like interior space versus top-end speed, when choosing between monohull and catamaran designs. Research each model to get the right fit for your sailing style and needs.

Why Catamarans Struggle To Sail Close to the Wind?

Now, let’s explore the challenges faced by catamarans when it comes to sailing close to the wind. We’ll focus on understanding the wind and sailing, as well as the specific aspects of sailing a catamaran upwind.

Understanding the Wind and Sailing

Sailing is an art as well as a science, and one of the key elements of successful sailing is harnessing the power of the wind. When you’re sailing, it’s crucial to understand the concept of the “no-go zone,” where your boat cannot sail directly upwind.

The closer you can get to this zone, known as sailing “close-hauled,” the better you can take advantage of the wind’s power.

When sailing close-hauled, your sail’s leading edge (the luff) is facing into the wind, while the trailing edge (the leech) is pulled tight.

Telltales (small pieces of yarn or ribbon attached to your sail) can help you determine whether you’re sailing close to the wind, as they should flow directly to the leech, parallel to the wind.

The Aspects of Sailing a Catamaran Upwind

When it comes to catamarans, sailing close to the wind can be more challenging than on monohulls. Here are some reasons why:

• Wide Beam:  Catamarans have a wider beam than monohulls, which means they have more wind resistance and are less streamlined when sailing upwind.
• Daggerboards:  Many catamarans lack full daggerboards, which help counterbalance the sail force of the wind. Without them, catamarans struggle to point upwind as efficiently as monohulls. 
• Mast Rigging:  Catamarans often have more difficulty achieving a tight sail luff due to their mast rigging configuration. To enhance upwind performance, some custom-built catamarans opt for expensive carbon fiber masts and high-tech shrouds that are lighter and stiffer. 
• Pitching Moment:  Catamarans have a strong pitching moment because of their wide and light design, making it difficult for them to sail efficiently upwind.

The Design Features of Catamarans Impacting Sailing

Comparison with monohull boats.

When you see a catamaran, you’ll notice that it has two hulls, unlike the single hull of a monohull boat. This design offers more stability and space, but it also impacts the way catamarans sail.

For example, catamarans lack a keel, which means they don’t have the same stability as monohulls when it comes to sailing upwind.

One of the key differences between a catamaran and a monohull is the way they harness the wind to generate lift. Monohulls rely on heeling and the shape of their hull to create lift, while catamarans mostly use their sails, daggerboards, and the angle of the wind to achieve this.

The shape of a catamaran’s hulls also leads to less lateral resistance, making them less efficient at sailing upwind.

Effect of Weight and Comfort Features on Speed

As mentioned above, cruising Catamarans are known for their comfort and space, but these characteristics can impact their performance. The increased beam and more generous living spaces can contribute to additional weight, which affects the boat’s overall speed and ability to sail upwind.

Some catamarans also have wetted surface areas that are significantly larger than those of monohulls, leading to higher drag and reducing their upwind efficiency.

To improve upwind sailing performance, catamarans often incorporate daggerboards and/or jib, which help create lift and resist lateral movement. Daggerboards can be raised and lowered, depending on the sailing conditions, to maximize lift and reduce drag.

The use of a well-designed mainsail, boom, and rudder can also enhance a catamaran’s ability to sail closer to the wind.

Despite these design elements, you might have to adjust your sailing strategy when aboard a catamaran.

Instead of attempting to sail as close to the wind as possible, you can bear off a few degrees to build up apparent wind and power your sails, which allows the rig to generate more forward drive.

Advanced Techniques for Sailing Catamarans Close to the Wind

Optimizing Daggerboard Use

To improve your catamaran’s upwind performance, the correct use of daggerboards is essential. Daggerboards help reduce leeway, increasing your yacht’s pointing ability.

When sailing close to the wind, lower the windward daggerboard fully and raise the leeward one to about half. This configuration enhances the catamaran’s maneuverability and reduces drag, allowing you to sail at a closer angle to the wind.

Adapting to Weather Conditions

Weather conditions play a significant role in how well a catamaran can sail upwind. In lighter conditions, it’s essential to keep your boat moving by minimizing tacking maneuvers, which tend to slow down a catamaran compared to monohulls.

When the wind picks up, be prepared to reef sails and adjust your course accordingly. If stormy weather approaches, prioritize maintaining control and achieving a moderate speed without endangering the boat or the crew.

Navigational Aids and Their Role

To sail a catamaran close to the wind efficiently, it’s helpful to take advantage of navigational aids such as a chart plotter and autopilot.

A chart plotter allows you to plan your course while the autopilot keeps you on track, giving you time to focus on sail trim, daggerboard use, and other factors.

Also, sailing upwind requires constant attention to wind shifts; using instruments like wind indicators and GPS can help you to identify and react to changes in wind conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: how do catamarans perform in upwind sailing.

Catamarans typically face challenges when sailing upwind. The design with two hulls and a shallow draft makes them less efficient at sailing close to the wind compared to monohulls. Catamarans usually sail at an angle of 35 to 50 degrees off the wind.

Q: What factors affect a catamaran’s ability to sail close to the wind?

Several factors can influence how close to the wind a catamaran can sail:

• Hull shape: The shape and underwater profile of the catamaran’s hulls will impact its upwind performance.
• Windage: Catamarans have a wider beam and more surface area, which increases the amount of wind resistance they face.
• Lateral resistance: A catamaran’s underwater surface area affects its lateral resistance, making it more difficult to sail upwind in some conditions. Decreased lateral resistance in the water can cause the boat to be less efficient upwind.

Q: What are some techniques to improve upwind sailing on a catamaran?

There are several techniques you can use to improve upwind sailing on a catamaran:

• Optimize sail trim: Properly trimming your sails can make your catamaran more efficient upwind.
• Reduce windage: Minimizing the amount of gear and equipment stored on deck can lower the wind resistance.
• Choose the right sails: Using the appropriate sails for the specific wind conditions can improve performance.

Q: How does sail shape influence catamaran performance in the wind?

The shape and size of sails play a crucial role in how efficiently a catamaran can sail in the wind. When sailing upwind, a flatter sail shape is more effective as it creates less drag and generates better airflow. In contrast, a fuller sail shape is better for sailing downwind and reaching.

Q: Are there any modifications to enhance the upwind capabilities of a catamaran?

Yes, there are modifications that can enhance a catamaran’s upwind performance:

• Adding daggerboards or centerboards: These additions can provide more lateral resistance, improving the catamaran’s ability to point higher into the wind.
• Installing high-aspect ratio sails: These sails are taller and narrower, providing better lift and less drag upwind.
• Upgrading your rigging: Higher-quality rigging components can allow for improved sail shape adjustments, optimizing your catamaran’s upwind performance.

Q: How do power catamarans perform compared to sailing catamarans in terms of wind angles?

Power catamarans are not as affected by wind angles compared to sailing catamarans because they rely on engine power rather than sails. They generally have better control and maneuverability in the wind. However, they may still experience increased wind resistance due to their wide beam and larger surface area.

Final Words!

In conclusion, while catamarans are renowned for their speed and stability, they do face limitations when it comes to sailing close to the wind. The reasons stated in the article.

However, it’s important to note that catamarans excel in many other aspects of sailing, such as reaching and running with the wind, where their broad hulls provide excellent stability and speed.

Sailors and designers have continually innovated to overcome these limitations, exploring different techniques and technologies to enhance catamarans’ upwind performance.

So, while catamarans may struggle to sail as close to the wind as some other types of boats, their overall advantages in terms of speed, stability, and spaciousness make them a popular choice among sailors worldwide.

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Daniella has been passionate about travel, the sea, and nature for many years. As a child, she frequently traveled throughout the Mediterranean and continued with her journeys throughout her adult life.

Her experiences have created the desire within her to share her love for traveling with other passionate and adventurers who want to discover beautiful horizons and new cultures.

4 thoughts on “Why Do Catamarans Can’t Sail Upwind? – Here Are The Main Reasons!”

Great article on the challenges catamarans face when sailing close to the wind! The explanations regarding hull shape, windage, and lateral resistance were very informative. I have a question for you: Are there any specific catamaran models or designs that have successfully addressed these challenges and perform exceptionally well when sailing upwind, and if so, what sets them apart? Thanks for sharing your insights!

Thanks for the feedback. I’m glad you found the article informative. There are definitely some catamaran designs that do pretty well upwind compared to traditional models. A few that stand out are the Farrier F-22, Lagoon 450, and Outremer 5X. What sets them apart is their narrower hulls and more pronounced bow sections, which allow them to punch through waves more easily when sailing closer to the wind. The sail plans on these designs also tend to be optimized for upwind performance with larger headsails and overlapping genoas. Some even have movable ballast or hydrofoils that help reduce leeway in strong winds. Of course, no cat will point as high as a monohull, but these models seem to do the best job minimizing the inherent lateral resistance that cats face when sailing close-hauled. Let me know if you have any other questions, I’ll be more than happy to answer:)

Thank you again for the comment and I wish you a lovely day.

The article provides a compelling overview of why catamarans face challenges sailing close to the wind. It’s particularly interesting to consider the trade-offs between comfort and performance in production catamarans. However, one question remains: How significant is the difference in upwind performance between a high-performance catamaran with daggerboards and a similarly sized monohull designed for racing? Could you elaborate on the specific design elements that contribute to this performance gap?

Thank you for your comment. I am glad you found the article useful! 

When you compare the upwind performance of a high-performance catamaran with daggerboards to a racing monohull, you’ll notice distinct differences due to their design elements. Your catamaran’s daggerboards provide lift and reduce sideways slippage, allowing for higher speeds even if it doesn’t point as close to the wind as the monohull. The catamaran’s dual, slender hulls also decrease drag, contributing to its speed advantage.

In contrast, your monohull relies on a deep keel with a weighted bulb for stability and upwind efficiency, allowing it to sail closer to the wind but typically at a slower speed than a catamaran. The monohull’s ability to heel reduces the wetted surface area, which helps its upwind performance.

Overall, the catamaran’s speed may compensate for its lower pointing ability, while the monohull prioritizes a closer wind angle over speed. Design elements like hull shape, keel or daggerboard design, and weight distribution play crucial roles in defining each vessel’s upwind capabilities.

I hope it helped. If you need more information, let me know. I am always happy to assist.

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How is Catamaran Sailing Different from Monohull Sailing?

Sailing a catamaran is very similar to sailing a monohull in most aspects. If you learn to sail on a monohull, most of the skills are easily transferable. However, there are a couple of subtle differences that one has to be aware of:

• When tacking, you must work hard to maintain your speed throughout the tack and often need to ease your mainsheet to prevent “windvaning”. Windvaning is when the larger mainsail on a catamaran tries to turn the boat back into the wind.
• When gybing on a monohull, you must be very careful of an accidental gybe, and so you gybe much more slowly. On a catamaran, you can use the increased speed to your advantage and maintain speed while gybing to help depower the main.
• On a monohull, as winds increase, the boat starts heeling which lets you know that you have too much sail up and it’s time to reef. On a catamaran, because they do not heel, you have to be very careful in terms of when to reef the massive main. Typically, you will throw in the first reef at 18-20 knots of wind speed (depending on the size of your vessel) and put in a second reef as the wind gets closer to 23-25 kts)

Most aspects of sailing a catamaran are very similar to a monohull, so making the transition to a sailing catamaran is usually not that challenging of a process!

Why are Catamarans Popular?

Catamarans have exploded in popularity in the last 5 years! There are many advantages to catamarans over monohulls.

• Much more space on a catamaran!
• Catamarans are far more stable than monohulls so they do not heel when sailing, and are less prone to rocking when at anchor. Making for a much more comfortable boat!
• Catamarans have a shallow draft which allows them to enter shallower areas. In the South Pacific, most lagoons are 6-8 feet deep. This is too shallow for monohulls to enter, but a catamaran can easily enter these lagoons.
• Speed: Often, especially downwind, catamarans are faster than monohulls
• More light and airy living area. On a catamaran, the living space is usually up in the middle of the boat, built on the bridge deck whereas in a monohull you go down into the hull where it is darker and feels less open.
• More storage space and room for extra systems like air conditioning, water makers, generators, larger fridges and freezers, etc… Again, having room for all these amenities makes for more comfortable living.

What is a Catamaran?

A catamaran is a sailboat with two hulls. These two hulls are connected by a bridge deck. Many people will be familiar with Hobie cats, small catamarans that are popular for sailing on lakes and in calmer waters. Cruising catamarans are based on this same principle but have large hulls that can fit many cabins inside, and house large structures on the bridge deck (like a galley, salon and living area).

Are catamarans safer than monohull sailboats?

Great question! Catamarans are much more stable than monohulls, and so people are less likely to fall overboard, which does make them safer in this aspect. They are larger, more stable boats, and so in most situations, this will make them a “safer” sailboat than a comparably sized monohull.

Catamarans also have the advantage of having 2 engines, which makes them “safer” when it comes to engine problems. On a monohull sailboat , if you have major engine problems you only have the option of sailing. On a catamaran, you always have a second motor ready to help out in an emergency!

Are catamarans easier to sail?

What makes monohulls harder to sail is heeling and more confined spaces. In stronger winds monohulls heel, making most tasks a little more difficult to manage. Whether you are going forward to reef, trying to winch in a sail or moving about the boat, sailing on a heeling boat is more challenging. Catamarans, however, because of their extra stability and room, allow for much easier movement around the boat as they do not heel. For this reason, catamarans are often considered “easier” to sail.

Can a catamaran cross the Atlantic?

Definitely! Early on many catamarans and trimarans were home-built from kits, and many of these boats gave catamarans a bad rap for offshore sailing. For decades now the major catamaran manufacturers have been improving these amazing vessels, and now catamarans are safe, stable and fast on offshore passages. In 2020 we completed an Atlantic crossing in our very own Never Say Never Lagoon 400S2 catamaran.

How fast does a catamaran sail?

Not all catamarans are created equal. Many of the production catamarans like Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot and Leopard are designed for cruising. This means that they are willing to sacrifice some performance in the interest of comfort for their owners and crew. These boats still are often faster than a monohull of comparable size when on a beam reach or downwind point of sail, often seeing speeds in the double digits. Upwind, catamarans do not usually have the same ability to point into the wind (as they have shorter, stubbier keels) and do not travel as quickly.

Some high-performance catamarans from manufacturers like Outremer, Gunboat and HH, make incredibly fast catamarans that can achieve speeds in the high teens and low 20s under ideal conditions.

Want to learn more?

Learning to sail a catamaran has it’s differences from monohulls. If you are planning on sailing catamarans, then it’s best to spend a week onboard one learning how to sail and operate these vessels. We offer catamaran sailing courses in the Grenadines (Caribbean), Sea of Cortez (Mexico), Mallorca (Spain) and Tahiti (South Pacific).

Our week-long live aboard courses truly are an incredible experience! You will spend the week learning over 100 different skills and learn to comfortably sail and operate the vessel. Upon successful completion of the course, you will earn ASA certification 101, 103, 104 and 114 (up to Cruising Catamaran certification) which allows you to charter catamarans internationally.

This intensive course will give you the knowledge, skills and experience to charter catamarans, or help you set sail on your vessel! All while having a blast, snorkelling, hiking and exploring exclusive bays.

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How to sail UPWIND in your catamaran

Introduction

In this episode, we talk about sailing upwind in a catamaran. So why do catamarans have a reputation for sailing upwind so badly? Are daggerboards really necessary in order to reach some reasonable upwind angles?

The good news is for those of you sporting a breed of cat that doesn’t have a couple of daggerboards intruding into your living space you can still get your boat to go to windward. While daggerboards do provide some extra grip in the water compared to the keeled hulls of most charter variety catamarans, they are not the key secret to success. Let’s dive into what are the key critical ingredients to make a multihull successfully sail upwind.

The Headsail

The most important ingredient for upwind performance are your working sails. That means, your mainsail and your headsail (or jib). Having the correct sail profiles are critical to upwind performance. This is why most racing boats will have sail stripes on their sails. Sail stripes help to visually identify the shape of your sail. On a catamaran, you are chasing relatively flat sails. The sail stripes will help you identify the fullness of your sail. You can use sail stripes on both the mainsail and headsail.

As certain sail clothes age and are used they will stretch and lose shape. This can impact drastically on your vessel’s performance.

The other aspect to consider is that forestay tension can also affect the shape of your headsail. The tighter the forestay tension, the more stable the sail shape will be. A loose forestay means that there will be more shape in your headsail depending if you are at the top of the wave or the bottom.

You can only sail as far upwind as your entry angle of the jib will let you. If your jib is too full, in other words your headsail has a lot of shape in it, you are never going to fill the sail correctly to be able to sail at 30 degrees apparent.

Sheeting Angles

The exit slot for the headsail is the space between the clew of the jib and the mainsail. This exit slot must be sheeted at the correct angle to allow maximum efficiency. We can reduce the exit slot gap on our headsail to improve our sail efficiency and sail closer upwind.

The Mainsail

We also use the speed stripes on our mainsail to help analyse shape and twist in the main. Along with these visual cues, we use specialized software to tell how full, or how flat, what the draft etc to give us additional data on our sails. You will notice that the sails on Paikea on quite flat, this shape is important to help us go upwind.

The Instruments

It is important to note that when sailing upwind, the Apparent Wind Speed or AWS will be more than the True Wind Speed or TWS. This means that your sails will be feeling more wind than is actually on the water.

Only 1 Rudder

Because we only have one rudder at the moment, we need to keep the speed up in order for it to be effective in the water. We drop the traveler to reduce the load on our remaining rudder which makes us go faster. Shayne also takes this opportunity to mumble about his traveler system again!!

Shaking out a Reef

Now we have more sail area at reef 3, we can go a bit faster. If we go too slow both our rudder and daggerboards are less effective. We try and keep Paikea sailing at 8kts upwind in order to balance the boat and keep the loads off the rudder. The extra bonus is that with the extra sail area we are able to keep the boat speeds

Mast Rotation

In order to increase upwind performance further, we can rotate our carbon wing mast. We can get a lot more height and speed when we rotate the mast. At this stage, we do not do this often as we don’t have a mast rotation sensor on the mast and it end up messing with all our instruments and data collection. We are still building polars and so need to make sure that the data we are collecting is as accurate as we can make it.

Want to learn more about jib trim on your catamaran? Check out this blog post on jib trim

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Can a Catamaran Sail Into the Wind?

When it comes to sailing, one of the most common questions that arise is whether a catamaran can sail into the wind. The answer might surprise you, so let’s dive into the topic and explore the capabilities of these unique vessels.

Understanding Catamarans

A catamaran is a type of boat that consists of two parallel hulls connected by a deck. Unlike traditional monohull sailboats, catamarans offer several advantages, including increased stability and speed. Due to their unique design, catamarans have gained popularity in recent years.

Sailing Basics

To understand if a catamaran can sail into the wind, we need to grasp some fundamental concepts of sailing. When sailing upwind, also known as beating or tacking, a sailboat must navigate at an angle to the wind direction. This angle is called the “close-hauled” or “upwind” position.

The Point of Sail

The point of sail refers to the direction in which a boat is traveling relative to the wind. There are several points of sail: close-hauled (upwind), beam reach (perpendicular to the wind), broad reach (at an angle away from directly downwind), and running (directly downwind).

The Apparent Wind

The apparent wind is created by a combination of the true wind and the boat’s forward motion. When sailing upwind, it appears as if the wind is coming from ahead rather than directly astern. This apparent wind affects how a boat sails and determines its performance.

Sailing Upwind with a Catamaran

Now that we have covered some sailing basics let’s address whether a catamaran can sail into the wind. The answer is yes! Catamarans are known for their excellent upwind performance, even in challenging conditions.

Why Catamarans Perform Well Upwind

Catamarans have a shallow draft, which allows them to sail closer to the wind compared to monohull boats. The two hulls create a wide base, offering increased stability and preventing excessive heeling (the tilting of the boat). This stability allows catamarans to maintain higher speeds while sailing upwind.

The Role of Daggerboards

Daggerboards are retractable fins located beneath each hull of a catamaran. These boards can be adjusted to increase lift and reduce sideways drift. By using daggerboards effectively, catamarans can minimize leeway (sideways sliding) and make progress towards the wind direction.

In conclusion, catamarans can indeed sail into the wind. Due to their design features such as shallow draft, wide base for stability, and adjustable daggerboards, these vessels excel at sailing upwind. Whether you’re planning a leisurely cruise or participating in a regatta, a catamaran offers an enjoyable and efficient sailing experience.

• Key Takeaways:
• Catamarans are boats with two parallel hulls connected by a deck.
• Sailing upwind requires navigating at an angle to the wind direction.
• The apparent wind affects how a boat sails and performs.
• Catamarans have excellent upwind performance due to their design features.
• Daggerboards play a crucial role in minimizing sideways drift.

8 Related Question Answers Found

How close to the wind can a catamaran sail, can you sail a catamaran around the world, can a ship with sails sail into the wind, can you sail a catamaran across the atlantic, can you sail across the ocean in a catamaran, is it possible to sail into the wind, can a sailboat sail into the wind, can you sail around the world in a catamaran.

Lindsay Collins

How Does a Boat Sail Upwind?

Sailing Upwind

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Sail And Power Catamarans: Developing A 'Catitude'

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Once you get the hang of it, multihulls are a blast to drive. Here's how to handle these versatile, comfortable boats — sail or power — for those considering chartering a cat.

This 43-foot cat is trimmed well for upwind sailing. But once main and boom are eased out to accommodate wind direction, the jib may create a pinched slot as jib tracks are located on cabin tops. (Photo: Privilège Catamarans/Nico Krauss)

As a freelance marine journalist with a U.S. Coast Guard 100-Ton Master license, I get to captain dozens of boats of various designs and sizes. I'm also a cat convert from monohull boating with plenty of firsthand knowledge to share. If you're thinking of chartering or buying a cat, you'll benefit from their inherent advantages. Cats offer more room than the same-lengthmonohulls, they usually have better system access, and sailing cats may be faster in light wind because they're not dragging a heavy keel through the water.

Cats operate upright so you won't be on your ear in a blow. You can cook and sleep on a passage without "walking on the hull" like in a monohull that's heeling. You also spend more time above the waterline on a cat rather than the dreaded "down below" on a monohull.

Of course, for all the pluses, there are minuses: Finding a marina berth for a cat is difficult and expensive. Unlike monohulls that get into the groove and slice through waves when sailing upwind, cats can slap the water if the bridge deck clearance is low, or when the seas meet the underside of the bridge deck.

People who usually sail monohulls may be accustomed to being alerted to the wind rising too much by the increasing heel of the boat. If you get this amount of heeling in a cat, you may be beyond the point of no return; though this isn't as likely with many of today's heavier, wider models. Cats are not self-righting; you have to stay alert to worsening weather.

Also, unless it's a performance model with daggerboards, a cat only has mini-keels, so it won't point high and can be a bit like maneuvering a shoebox. They don't track well, tending to slip to leeward, and they tack slowly because they have to push two hulls rather than one through the eye of the wind. Finally, cats have fairly shallow rudders, so close-quarters maneuvering comes more from dual engine thrust, rather than the water flowing over the rudders — effective, but something to get used to.

An easy adjustment to position the jib out farther and improve performance is shown in this illustration.

When it comes to the emerging power-catamaran trend, driving cats under power is a straight-up joy. Their two props are set wide apart resulting in much better control and precise maneuvering in close quarters. Cats don't coast like monohulls because they don't have a keel to keep them tracking, so gliding into a dock at a shallow angle doesn't work, and neither does using propwalk to tuck in the stern. You use the engines to spin a cat in its own length or walk it sideways, both of which are easier to master than the nuances of driving a monohull.

Regardless of whether you're docking, picking up a mooring, or anchoring, always keep the boat powered up and ready to drive until you're done because you can't just push a 45-foot cat around by hand. Here are some handling tips that apply to handling both sail and power catamarans.

Don't Ding The Dock

When there's no wind, bigger sailcats also have an engine, which is needed in each hull. They aren't powered to drive as fast, but the principles are the same. Keep in mind, boats and conditions are varied, so we can only give examples here.

• Forget about the wheel when docking side-to or forward. Lock it on the centerline with the wheel lock or by leaning your body against it and maneuver using the throttles (see illustrations below). Power forward with the starboard engine, and aft with the port, and the cat moves to port and vice versa. Turn this around in your head when in reverse. Fine tune adjustments by using one engine at a time. Pause the propeller in neutral when changing directions from forward to reverse and vice-versa to give transmissions time to engage.

• Backing into a slip: Cats dock stern-to because the bows are high and it's easier to step on and off the dock via the swim platforms aft. When backing straight into a slip, come abeam, pivot 90 degrees with the engines until centered, and back in. If Med-mooring, drop anchor and pay out the rode slowly as you back with both engines. Set the anchor part way back, then keep backing and letting out rode until you're close enough to the dock to tie up the stern lines. Have fenders already tied aft to cushion the transoms. Tighten up on the anchor rode with the windlass.

Wind And Current

As with any boat, it's best to work against the current for better control.

• When departing a starboard tie-up with the current coming at the bow, put a fender and line on the starboard aft corner, power aft with the port engine, pivot, then drive out forward with both engines against the current. If the current is coming from behind, back out, putting a line and fender on the starboard bow. Power in reverse with the starboard engine, pivot, and then back out with both engines.
• Cats have high cabin tops, producing lots of windage. In tight quarters, you may need to turn more sharply when approaching a dock or line up to windward before backing in.

Picking Up A Mooring

Cats have high hulls and it's easy for the skipper to lose sight of a mooring ball before the boat is close enough for the crew to pick it up. Keep the mooring on the side where you can best see forward so you can keep an eye on the ball at all times. (Some cat helm stations are offset to one side or the other.)

• Hand signals or a headset for you and the crew make communications easier to send and receive rather than yelling.
• Have your crew pick up the mooring with a boat hook while you maneuver with the engines to keep station — easier on a cat than a monohulls, even in wind and current.
• Have lines ready by stringing one off a cleat on each hull. To do this, thread each line through the eye or loop, then back onto its cleat. Do this with both sides and adjust until the mooring sits on the centerline. This will minimize swinging and chafe, and noise in the forward cabins.

Anchoring is generally easier on a cat than a monohull. There's more room forward for crew to work, and you can keep the boat steady with the engines.

• A bridle should be preset with a line from each hull (under the trampoline) and hook or shackle in the middle. Once the anchor and chain is down, attach the bridle to the chain (usually done near the windlass) and set the hook putting the pressure on the bridle. Once set, let out enough chain to create a catenary.
• When raising anchor, take care to keep the chain in between the bows or you risk damaging the fiberglass by shaving the bottom of one or the other if you overrun the chain or lose track of where it is. Crew communication is critical.

Sail-Specific Cats

Here's how to coax the best out of a sailing catamaran:

• Big cats carry huge mainsails, so raising one typically requires an electric winch. It also may be challenging to keep full battens out of the lazyjacks that hold up the sail bag, so it can take a few people to raise a large sail. Also, there are usually multiple angles to the way halyards are run on cats with flybridges, resulting in friction. So "dropping" the mainsail can be more like "pulling" it down. Attach a messenger-type line to the mainsail head so it comes down easier.
• Reefing can be a guessing game because you don't feel a cat being overpowered like you do a monohull. Depending on the direction of sail and the sea state, you may be able to reef a little later with the wind a few knots higher — an individual call.
• Cat headsail tracks are typically on the cabin top making the sail curve back on itself, creating a wind break when it's sheeted in. A trick is to bring a spare line from the jib clue out to a cleat on the side deck to open up the slot to let air flow through. Check for chafe on the cabin and don't forget to release it before tacking.
• The majority of multihulls are built to sail on a beam or broad reach, and that's where they're the happiest. Dead downwind, cats shimmy a little making wing-on-wing sailing tricky, not all that different from monohulls. For more comfort, choose one broad reach or the other, then jibe when necessary.
• Cats with daggerboards can point higher and track better because, like monohulls, they have an appendage (or two) down low in the water for a better center of lateral resistance. Daggerboards are mostly used when sailing upwind, and it helps to keep the leeward board lower than the windward one. Sailing downwind with the boards lowered could create a tripping hazard, especially in rough seas where it's possible to stuff the bows into the wave ahead. When motorsailing, a trick to saving fuel and pointing higher is to run only the leeward engine for a little pointing assist.

Next time you have an opportunity to test drive a power or sailing cat, or to charter one on your next holiday, try it! The learning curve is so quick, it's really fun, and before you know it, you, too, may convert to being a cat person!

Catamaran Brands

You can further explore the array of catamarans, big and small, power and sail, by visiting any of these leading manufacturers.

• Aquila Power Catamarans
• Aspen Power Catamarans
• Fountaine-Pajot
• Horizon Power Catamarans
• Leopard Catamarans
• Nautitech 47 Power
• Balance Catamarans
• Fountaine Pajot
• Outremer Catamarans
• Seawind Catamarans

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Zuzana Prochazka is a freelance journalist specializing in writing, editing, and photography in boating and travel publications. She writes for a dozen boating magazines and websites and a growing list of travel publications. She enjoys combining her passions, which include seeing the world, sailing the oceans, and sharing her experiences through the written word. She holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100 Master license.

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Monohulls or Catamarans – Which is Best for the Cruising Sailor?

The debate between catamarans vs monohulls still rages, and most boaters are firmly on one side or the other. The truth is, either a catamaran or a monohull can provide a wonderful way to enjoy sailing, traveling, and being on the water. 

Both have advantages and disadvantages, and both have large and loud fan clubs. The choice between a catamaran and a monohull depends on your budget, lifestyle, and personal preferences.

My wife and I have owned both types of vessels over the years. After five years of cruising on a Lagoon catamaran, we decided to go old school and bought our current boat—a heavy, full-keel monohull. The catamaran was fun, for sure—but it wasn’t for us in the end. Here’s a look at all of the differences we learned about during our journey.

Table of Contents

Life at anchor, life at a dock, life underway, living space, storage space, ride comfort and motion at sea, maintenance time and costs, docking and maneuvering, capsize risk, hull breach scenarios.

• Rigging Safety 

Rigging Strength and Configuration

Monohull vs catamaran speed, thoughts on catamaran vs monohull for circumnavigation, deciding monohull vs catamaran, faqs – catamarans vs monohulls.

Life on Sailing Catamarans vs Life on a Monohull Vessel

At anchor, a catamaran provides superb comfort and living space. The “upstairs” cockpit and salon mean that boaters can enjoy non-stop wrap-around views.  Monohull boaters are stuck in their caves and must peek out of their small portlights or climb into their cockpits to view the world. 

A modern catamaran will also have swim steps that make it easy to get on and off the boat and provide easy access to dinghies and water toys. 

If there’s an uncomfortable roll or swell in the anchorage, the catamaran’s stability will make the roll a bit less noticeable. Monohull boaters are more likely to be adversely impacted in a rolly anchorage. This does not mean that the cat owners are getting a perfect night’s sleep every evening, however. Catamarans just have a different motion in rocky anchorages, not a lack of motion.

Life at a dock gets a little more tricky for catamarans. Most marinas were built long before the catamaran trend and feature traditional slip sizes meant for monohulls. Marinas have to put catamarans on t-heads or make other accommodations. Therefore, it can be harder and more expensive to find a catamaran-friendly dock. 

Once at a dock, the massive space of a catamaran can be harder to heat and cool efficiently. Catamarans usually need several air conditioners or heaters installed, whereas a monohull can get by with only one or two. That also means that cats might need more power (50 or 100 amp service instead of 30 amp) than some marinas can provide.

Monohulls will have fewer issues finding marinas that can accommodate them, and they pay standard rates. 

When sailing in protected waters, catamarans usually speed past their monohull friends. A catamaran provides a flat ride and sailors can move around their boats easily to make sail changes as needed. Walking on a catamaran’s deck is undemanding. 

Catamaran sailors also have many options to rest comfortably underway. Because catamarans don’t heel over, catamaran sailors can sleep in their usual cabins. They can move about the interior of the boat with ease. Cooking in the galley doesn’t usually look any different underway.

In similar conditions, a monohull will heel over. Some sailors love the feeling of being heeled over and feeling the wind in their hair. Some don’t. It can be more challenging to walk the decks and work sails on a monohull vs a catamaran. While in the cockpit, monohull sailors will want to sit on one side and may even need to brace themselves to stay comfortable. For long trips, there is no doubt that living while heeled over for days at a time is exhausting. 

Moving around the interior of a monohull boat at sea is also more challenging. Monohull sailors usually sleep in sea-berths with lee cloths instead of their usual quarters. It would be very uncomfortable to sleep in a v-berth underway, as the bow may be continuously pitching in seas. The lee-cloth in the sea-berth helps keep a resting sailor in their berth instead of falling onto the floor. 

Monohull boats have gimbaled stoves. Even while the boat is heeled over, the galley stove will remain level. However, cooking in a monohull while underway is still more challenging than cooking in a catamaran since the cook needs to constantly brace themselves against the heel and rolling motion. 

At the same time, none of this is to say that catamaran sailors have it easier at sea. In reality, catamarans may be more level, but they feel every wave in the ocean twice. The result is a choppy, bumpy ride with no rhythm. It can be just as tiring as being heeled over in a monohull.  

Catamaran vs Monohull Sailing Compared

Here are just a few ways that catamarans differentiate themselves from monohulls as platforms for living aboard.

• Living space—quantity and quality
• Storage space and weight
• Budget—purchase and routine maintenance
• Maintenance
• Catamaran vs Monohull for Circumnavigation
• Docking and close-quarters maneuvering

Catamarans have significantly larger and often more attractive living spaces. On the other hand, the living space on a monohull is usually small and can be dark due to small windows.

A monohull’s cockpit tends to be small and focused on safety. Families are more likely to feel in each other’s way, and moving around while others are seated can be awkward. On a catamaran, the cockpit is likely to be large and social. Catamaran cockpits have large tables and lots of lounging space in the cockpit.

Catamarans have large trampolines forward, which provides another comfortable, social lounging space that monohulls lack. Many catamarans also feature additional lounge space via the large cockpit roof. 

The salon on a monohull is located in the main cabin. A monohull’s salon will be smaller than a similarly-sized catamaran. Often there is a small table, room for several people to sit, and a single sleeping berth. 

Catamarans feature a wide bridge deck that crosses both hulls. This large living area features great visibility, ventilation, and natural light. On some catamarans, the galley is located on the bridge deck (called “galley up”), and on others, the galley is located in one of the hulls (called “galley down”). 

Monohulls have sleeping quarters in the bow and stern of the boat. On smaller monohulls, the main sleeping area is usually a v-berth. Older, smaller monohulls usually have just one head. 

On a catamaran, the sleeping quarters are located in each hull. These cabins often feature regular-sized boat beds and large en-suite heads. Cabins on a catamaran usually offer more privacy than monohulls. 

Catamarans are popular with charter companies because large families or groups of friends can enjoy living on a boat together in style and comfort. Each will have a private cabin and a private head. In addition, if you want to find space to exercise, do yoga, or watersports, you’ll find these activities much easier and more comfortable on a catamaran. 

Catamarans have more space in general and certainly have more storage space. The additional deck space catamaran designs offer lends to easy storage for larger items, such as paddleboards and kayaks. Catamarans can often hoist and store larger dinghies than monohulls can. Large compartments make storage easy. 

However, many catamaran owners are very cautious about storing too much. Additional weight can slow down a catamaran’s performance speeds. With so much space to put things in, it’s remarkably easy to overload a cruising catamaran. Many owners complain about the performance of smaller cats, when in reality they are often just badly overloaded.

Monohulls have less space and less storage. Finding space for big items like water toys can be challenging. But monohullers worry less about weight and freely carry around their cast iron skillet collections—because weight doesn’t impact performance on a monohull nearly as much. 

This is a consideration when cruisers consider adding additional equipment. For example, a catamaran owner will have to consider the added weight of a generator and its detriment to sailing speed. In contrast, a monohull owner will have to consider finding space for the new generator. 

Some prefer the motion of a monohull while sailing. Monohulls heel over but are steady, and sailors usually get used to the heeling motion. On a catamaran, if conditions are good, the boat won’t heel and will provide a comfortable ride. 

When sailing upwind, some catamarans experience bridge deck slamming. Waves get caught between the two hulls and create a slamming motion and sound. It’s hard to predict the timing and strength of each slamming motion, so some catamaran sailors can find it tiresome. 

The amount of bridge deck slam varies from boat to boat. Catamarans with higher bridge decks will experience less slamming, while boats with bridge decks closer to the water experience more. 

Beyond that often-discussed issue, there is also the issue of the boat’s motion. It’s very difficult to imagine how different the motions are when compared to one another. The monohulls slice through the waves, usually with a predictable rhythm. A catamaran, built lightly to sail fast, feels more like it bounces over the tops of waves. The crew will feel each impact as each hull hits each wave. The result is a choppy, unpredictable motion—but it’s generally flat and level.

Monohulls have been around for ages. Therefore, sailors just starting out can find inexpensive, older monohulls. If you have a tight budget, you’ll probably start looking for a monohull.

Catamarans are newer to the market. Therefore, the initial purchase price of a catamaran is likely to be higher. Monohull buyers can often find a used, well-equipped, comfortable monohull for less than $100,000. Catamaran buyers usually spend upwards of $250,000 for a used cruising catamaran. 

Because monohulls have been produced for so long, there is much more supply. The catamaran’s more modern pedigree means that there are always fewer catamarans on the market than monohulls. As more and more customers are drawn to the attractive living space and stable sailing offered by catamarans, demand keeps going up, while supply remains low.

Besides the higher up-front costs, catamarans are more expensive to keep and maintain. A monohull usually just has one engine. A monohull might have one head (bathroom) and will generally have less equipment. Monohulls have less space and storage, after all. Catamarans have twin engines, multiple heads, more hatches—more everything. 

With more equipment, catamarans have higher maintenance costs. When a monohull owner services their engine, they have just one engine. A catamaran owner will need to service twin engines. Furthermore, each hull on a catamaran usually has separate and independent systems like bilge pumps, plumbing, fuel, water tanks, holding tanks…the list goes on. 

A monohull owner will paint one hull bottom and wax only one hull. A catamaran owner will do everything twice. Therefore, the effort and cost of maintenance are often doubled on a catamaran. 

Not only does it cost more money, it can also be harder to accomplish maintenance on a catamaran. You see, catamaran owners have fewer options to haul out. Most older boatyards have travel lifts that only accommodate boats up to 18 or 20 feet wide. Therefore, catamarans need to find a boatyard that has a large enough travel lift or a trailer to haul them. Because there is less supply and more demand for these larger travel lifts, the cost of hauling out a catamaran is often higher. 

While some monohulls have lifting or swing keels and can reduce their draft, most catamarans have a shallow draft. This allows them greater flexibility while choosing anchorages. Even if a catamaran and monohull boat choose the same anchorage, the catamaran can get closer to shore and get better wind protection. 

One final big difference between these two types of vessels is their ability to maneuver in tight spaces. Monohull sailboats are notoriously difficult to maneuver around docks and marinas. They often have poor visibility from the helm and difficult handling, especially in reverse. The single-engine design often requires a bow thruster, even on smaller boats. 

The contrast that catamarans offer is pretty stunning. Even though they appear massive and ungainly in comparison, their twin engines mounted far outboard enable them to spin in their own length. Catamarans can be maneuvered in pretty much any direction using only differential thrust from the engines–all without a bow thruster.

Safety Considerations — Are Cruising Catamarans Safe?

Since most people have only limited experience with these vessels, many people wonder are catamarans safe. Even though they have been making large cruising cats for decades now, most of us have only really played on Hobie cats at the beach. And if there’s one thing we know about Hobie cats, it’s that they’re a lot of fun until you flip it over!

Here’s a look at a few safety considerations and how catamarans stack up against monohulls. 

• Catamaran stability — capsize potential 
• Hull breaches and sinking risk
• Rigging failures
• Designing for speed
• Redundancy on board

So, can you capsize a cruising catamaran? The answer is yes, no matter what the fanboys and girls say. It is technically possible but highly unlikely. Cruising cats are massive, and in all likelihood, you’re more likely to break the rigging than flip the boat. But in rough seas and extreme conditions, it does happen even on modern catamarans.

If a monohull encounters strong winds and rough weather, it will heel and roll significantly—but it will keep righting itself. In dire conditions, the vessel could suffer a knockdown. But a monohull will always right itself after a roll—it has tens of thousands of pounds of heavy keel to ensure that it does. Of course, the rig and anything on deck will sustain serious damage in the process, but the boat will be upright in the end. 

In the same scenario, while unlikely, a catamaran can capsize. And the catamaran will then remain capsized, with no possibility of righting itself.  

One of the scariest risks at sea is that of a serious hull breach, one that a bilge pump couldn’t keep up with. For example, a boat could be holed by an errant floating object or suffer a stuffing box or through-hull failure.

If a monohull sailboat is holed, it could sink straight to the bottom of the ocean. The crew would be left with only a liferaft and whatever they were able to recover before the sinking.

But a catamaran is filled with foam and is (more or less) unsinkable. If a catamaran experienced a hull breach or capsizes, it would take on water and may become less habitable. However, it will still float. In many cases, not much of the boat is left above the water—but it’s still at the top of the water.

Boaters may be able to perform emergency repairs and get the boat to port themselves. Or, they may have to stay with their vessel until help arrives. In either scenario, the crew maintains access to supplies and can stay with a much larger vessel, increasing the likelihood of being found and rescued. 

Some catamaran sailors are so certain of their vessels floating in all scenarios that they don’t even carry a liferaft aboard. This is fool-hearty, to say the least, given the crazy and unpredictable things that can happen to any boat on the ocean. But one scenario is equally scary for the monohull or the catamaran sailor and should convince everyone that any offshore vessel should have a liferaft—the possibility of an uncontrollable fire.

Rigging Safety

When wind speed increases, a monohull will heel over. This heeling motion sheds the excess power of the wind. Monohull boaters should pay attention to the weather and reduce sail to ensure they aren’t overpowering the boat. This is why knowing how to reef a sail is so important for all sailors.

However, on a catamaran, the sails and rigging take the increased load when wind speed increases. Catamarans don’t heel, and therefore, don’t shed excess power. If the weather becomes gusty and a catamaran has too much sail up, all that extra power is transferred to the sails and rigging.

This can cause a dangerous situation. For example, there have been reports of catamarans being de-masted in sudden gusts of wind. In a worst-case scenario, a catamaran could capsize if they are over-canvassed when experiencing extreme wind conditions.

Most monohulls have strong standing rigging. The forestay is connected to a solid structure, the hull. This means that the forestay has a strong, stable platform and gives a monohull better upwind performance. Monohulls also usually have backstays, which provide rigging redundancy.

On a catamaran, the forestay is attached to a crossbeam. Because the platform is not as rigid as a monohull’s hull, the forestay is not as strong. In addition, catamarans usually don’t have backstays, and therefore have less rigging redundancy. 

The configuration of the rigging is another rigging consideration. On a monohull, the spreaders and shrouds are perpendicular to the mast. Most catamarans come with fractional rigs that don’t have backstays, and their shrouds are set far back. Because of this configuration, catamaran sailors can’t let their mainsails out all the way on a downwind run because the shrouds are in the way. This leads to less efficient sail shapes when sailing downwind.

However, catamaran sailors can rig their sails to sail wing-on-wing. While monohull sailors can also use this configuration with the help of a whisker pole, catamaran sailors have a nice, wide, stable platform to fly large downwind sails. 

There’s no doubt about it–catamarans sail faster. Most articles and comparisons state that catamarans are about 20% faster than a similarly sized monohull. Catamarans have a lower wetted surface area and less drag than monohulls. They’re especially nice to sail in light winds, conditions that heavy cruising monohulls tend to not do well in.

While most cruising cats can’t sail upwind as high as monohulls can, they still win the race. However, if a catamaran has daggerboards and a good sail inventory, it can point as well as a monohull. 

Many boat owners believe that speed equals safety, as you might be able to outrun an impending storm. That’s a debatable strategy since weather systems often move faster than any cruising boat can move. It has a lot more to do with planning and the decisions made by the skipper, in the end. 

Furthermore, more speed means a rougher ride. A heavy, full-keeled monohull might not move very fast, but the sea-kindly and forgiving ride means a more comfortable and better-rested crew. This only goes to illustrate that the “more speed” argument is far more of a personal preference than many sailors admit—especially when it comes to long-distance cruising.

A faster boat provides a skipper with more options, but it does not ultimately equal inherent safety. That will always come down to the skipper and the crew, and the choices they make. A slow boat in the hands of an experienced and careful crew will always be safer than a fast racer under the command of an inexperienced and green crew. In other words, there is no replacement for seamanship and careful planning.

Catamarans have two of everything. While this does equal double the cost and maintenance, it also provides redundancy. If a monohull’s single engine dies and there is no wind, they may have to call for a tow or wait for wind. If a catamaran’s left engine dies, sailors can just continue on the right engine. 

Twenty years ago, the majority of boats completing circumnavigations were classic bluewater monohulls. Monohulls are considered safe and capable circumnavigators.

But today, catamarans are establishing themselves as the more desirable choice for many circumnavigators. Catamarans are fast, stable, and capable of crossing oceans. In addition, catamarans can carry significant supplies and offer redundancies. Plus, the extra space that catamarans provide also means that the crew will enjoy watersports like diving, paddle boarding, and surfing. 

Since nearly all traditional routes are downwind “milk runs,” catamarans naturally excel along the way. If you take a look at the competing boats for the World ARC rally for the last few years, a definite trend is growing. More catamarans compete every year. Common entrants include Lagoon 450s and Antares 44s.

One of the most significant decision points when thinking about catamarans versus monohulls is your budget. If your budget is under $100,000, a monohull will be your best bet. If your budget is between $100,000 and $250,000, you can consider a smaller, older catamaran. Catamarans such as PDQs, Prouts, and Geminis will be in your budget. If you have a budget of over $250,000 and can afford higher dockage and maintenance costs, you can consider a catamaran.

Next, consider your comfort level. To try it out, you might want to charter both a monohull and a catamaran. Check out a sailing vacation in the BVI or with a company like Cruise Abaco. Taking classes at our local sailing school might also be helpful. https://cruiseabaco.com

Many folks are attracted to the larger, more comfortable spaces of a catamaran. However, some people feel more seasick on a catamaran and can’t get used to the motion.  So a lot of your decision will come down to personal preference. 

If you can’t imagine squeezing into a darker, smaller cabin in a monohull, then a catamaran might be calling your name. On the other hand, if you are a traditionalist who loves heeling and boats with a lot of teak, a monohull might be your dream boat. It’s just impossible to know how a boat will make you feel until you’ve experienced both.

Boaters often discuss the compromises involved in boat choices. Whether you choose a monohull or a catamaran, there will be some compromises involved. However, no matter which boat you choose, you can enjoy smooth sailing, beautiful anchorages, and some adventure along the way.

Worried about getting caught in severe storm conditions in your boat ? Visit our guide!

Which is better monohull or catamaran?

Both monohulls and catamarans are popular choices for cruising sailors. Which one is better depends entirely on your personal preferences and which boat is more comfortable and appealing to you. If you are on a tight budget, a monohull is your best choice. On the other hand, if you love large open living spaces, a catamaran will be the better option.

Which is safer catamaran or monohull?

When wondering are catamarans safe, always remember that the primary determinant of the safety of a vessel is its captain, not the vessel itself. Both monohull sailboats and cruising cats have important limitations that their skippers must know and abide by. 

Some consider catamarans safer because they are virtually unsinkable. If it has a hull breach or capsizes, it will still float. 

Others see the sea-kindly monohull to be the safer bet, as they are better designed to protect their crews from the elements in severe weather. They also cannot capsize, as their ballast provides a righting moment in all conditions. But on the other hand, if a monohull experiences a hull breach, it can sink.

Can catamarans handle rough seas?

Modern cruising catamarans are built strong enough to cross oceans and survive in all kinds of conditions. It might be an uncomfortable ride, but not an unsafe ride. In the end, it is the skipper of the boat who ensures its safety at sea. Good seamanship makes a far bigger difference in how a boat handles rough seas than the design of the boat does. 

In extreme conditions, such as hurricanes or sudden gusty winds, catamarans can capsize. Once a catamaran has capsized, it won’t right itself. However, it will still float, although upside down. Heavy seas are more likely to cause maintenance and chafing issues on both catamarans and monohulls.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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What kind of boat can sail closest to the wind?

Discussion in ' Sailboats ' started by laukejas , Aug 29, 2016 .

laukejas Senior Member

Hi guys, After this season of sailing, when I had to beat upwind through extremely narrow lake passages, my boat struggling through 100 degrees on each tack, I got curious. It is quite obvious that not all boats can beat upwind at the same TWA (True Wind Angle). Mine does 50 degrees at it's best. What it means is that it can sail higher than that, but the speed drops and the leeway increases too much, so my best VMG (Velocity Made Good) happens to be at around 50°. I think that usual Marconi rigs do 40-45°, some racing boats reach 35°. I recon that IACC (Internation America's Cup Class) used to sail as close as 28° to the wind. The curious thing is that multihulls have a very large TWA, but wonderful VMG, because their insane speed makes up for that large angle. So it is obvious that the VMG is more important measure of upwind performance than TWA. However, in some cases, it is more important to be able to have a boat that reaches it's best VMG when sailing very closely to the wind, that is, at low TWA. For example, when sailing (or even racing) in narrow passages, docking, maneuvering in tight spaces, or many other cases. So I wonder, what kind of sailboat can sail closest to the wind? IACC does 28°, which sounds amazing. Is there a boat that does it's best VMG at 25°? 20°, maybe? Is there a record? I also wonder what kind of hull and rig would be best for sailing so close to the wind. Near-flat, high-aspect rig and a slender hull with a very effective, low-drag board to negate drift seems logical. But then again, catamarans have all these features (if you neglect the windward hull that's lifted out of the water), yet surprisingly, their best VMG is at a very large TWA angle, opposite of what would be needed in, for example, sailing fast in a river. So there must be more factors at play here. I look forward to your opinions, and the boats that could act as an example. I put a lot of effort into searching any information and discussions on this very specific topic, but found little yet... Time to fill the gap.  

gggGuest ...

Perhaps counter intuitively, to point really high you must also go rather slowly, otherwise the apparent wind comes back too far. That's why the really fast boats have quite a wide angle. The IACC ones are going to be well up on the list because they have: - really efficient rigs above the water - really efficient foils underwater - really low drag hulls - so much lead that they cannot actually sail very fast upwind for their size. The thing is though, if you are in a very high performance boat that gets its best vmg at quite a wide angle, then you do have the option of slowing it down and pointing at the moon. Its rather handy if you have narrowly misjudged the approach to a racing mark and need to sneak around. The only caveat is that the daggerboards/whatever on high performance craft are relatively small, because they normally have plenty of water flowing past them, so if you point too high and too slow the daggerboard flow may stall out, which leaves you in irons and in an attitude that's rather difficult to quickly recover from.  

SukiSolo Senior Member

Ice yachts get a pretty tight angle of apparent wind......  

gggGuest said: ↑ Perhaps counter intuitively, to point really high you must also go rather slowly, otherwise the apparent wind comes back too far. That's why the really fast boats have quite a wide angle. The IACC ones are going to be well up on the list because they have: - really efficient rigs above the water - really efficient foils underwater - really low drag hulls - so much lead that they cannot actually sail very fast upwind for their size. The thing is though, if you are in a very high performance boat that gets its best vmg at quite a wide angle, then you do have the option of slowing it down and pointing at the moon. Its rather handy if you have narrowly misjudged the approach to a racing mark and need to sneak around. The only caveat is that the daggerboards/whatever on high performance craft are relatively small, because they normally have plenty of water flowing past them, so if you point too high and too slow the daggerboard flow may stall out, which leaves you in irons and in an attitude that's rather difficult to quickly recover from. Click to expand...

Petros Senior Member

all of the best pointing boats have highly refined sloop rigs, with really large jibs. IT seems to me that a single large sails, a cat rig, would be most efficient, but it is necessary to have a jib to get the angle. I think the jib keeps the flow attached at high wind angles over the mainsail. A very efficient foil shaped keel is a must too.  

Petros said: ↑ all of the best pointing boats have highly refined sloop rigs, with really large jibs. IT seems to me that a single large sails, a cat rig, would be most efficient, but it is necessary to have a jib to get the angle. I think the jib keeps the flow attached at high wind angles over the mainsail. A very efficient foil shaped keel is a must too. Click to expand...

Stumble Senior Member

As mentioned in order to sail really high to the TWA you really need to slow the boat down to keep the apparent wind from shifting so far forward. But if you are just worried about vmg and not just TWA then there are some characteristics that can be pretty easily defined. A Uni-Rig like the A-Class Catamarans or M-32 Rotating wing mast (wing masts are better but far more difficult to deal with) A very efficient hull shape with a long narrow design High aspect, low drag foils Square top sail Basically a bunch of drag reduction stuff combined with a very easily driven hull design. Then you need a lot of ballast to keep the boat flat.  

catsketcher Senior Member

Large jib not required Pointing ability is really important in racing. It is often very detrimental to be sailing low in large fleet. Etchell 22s have a small jib and have very low tacking angles. They have large keels, tight sheeting angles and low drag both above the water and below water. You never want to be above an Etchell because they point so high and willwind upon your bow really quickly. Watch them on flat water. Put them in slop and light wind and they will not point high but then again no boat will. 12 metre yachts could also sail at very tight angles in flat water. I have a great shot of Australia 2 and Liberty sailing at about 70 degrees apart on oppsite tacks. Large keels, low drag and great sails. Pointing ability is as much about drag as other factors. If you tow a dinghy upwind or put a three bladed prop on the boat you lose height. This is because drag feeds straight into pointing ability.  

zumatic New Member

If you allow parts of the rig to move (in practice, this means a wind turbine), you can sail at zero degrees to the wind, albeit slowly. Several videos on Youtube. I remember a TV program in the 80s where a catamaran was built, with a turbine, which achieved about 1 knot directly upwind. Even with a turbine, it would be faster to tack (i.e. higher VMG, in yacht parlance).  

PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

zumatic said: ↑ If you allow parts of the rig to move (in practice, this means a wind turbine), you can sail at zero degrees to the wind, albeit slowly . . .. Click to expand...

No, what I mean is that the boat itself is at zero incidence (i.e. directly upwind), but the turbine blades can be at whatever angle you like. The turbine is used to drive a propeller, either mechanically or maybe electrically. No need to patent -- loads of prior art by other people. Have a look at this design (sadly you can't see it going directly upwind): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzGCYaJbf0A The project failed commercially, but it did work. Also have a look at these dutch land yachts -- you can see several going directly upwind (turbine is facing directly into the wind): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQu4hUKnoVE And this, which solved a famously tedious internet argument: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7PNSyAfCjk  

philSweet Senior Member

I suspect this answer is going to bug a lot of people, but all else being equal, the boat with the lower total drag angle (sum of aero drag angle and hydro-drag angle) will have the potential to sail faster and have its VMG at a higher angle, not lower. The old 12 meter AC boats weren't just high pointing, they were damn fast in 5 knots of wind. So to point higher and go faster, improve the L/D ratio of the entire aero package and/or the entire hydro package. Of course, the L/D ratios aren't constant. The aero L/D changes with apparent wind angle. The hydro forces have to balance the aero forces. And the hydro L/D depends on those forces and true speed. So often, achieving the last bit of potential at the highest pointing angle is just traded-off for better all-round performance. Smaller foils and a shallower draft are good everywhere except that last couple of degrees of windward ability. And they are cheaper, too. Oh, and the easiest way to point higher is to leave prop in gear  

actually the question is a curios one, if you design a boat to point highest it will not likely perform well in other areas. is your objective to just point at as high and angle as you can, or to make the best time up wind? These will results in different designs. And fastest around a given course may favor a different design again. For example, the highest pointing boat may not be the fastest one up wind. I know that usually sailing down wind at an angle, and jibing back and forth, usually results in going faster than just going straight down wind. The fastest sailboat from one point to another is almost never a straight line. Overall one hopes to make both route choices, and boat design choices, to get through a course as fast as possible. Each alternative gives different performance benefits and disadvantages.  

sharpii2 Senior Member

I think the simplest answer is very tall and very deep. The boat should have a tall Bermuda Main and maybe no jib at all. I noticed my Siren 17 pointed higher without the jib than with it. But it had a crappy jib that was supposed fly on its own wire, so it could be 'spool reefed'. It was very hard to get it to set right, and this usually meant sailing a few more degrees off the wind. When I say deep, I mean it needs a very deep, short keel, probably with a bulb on it, which contains all or most of the ballast. The rudder should resemble the keel in being short and deep too. Both should have proper foil sections. Because the boat will be moving slower upwind, the keel needs to larger than usual in total area. And this usually means making it even deeper, to get that extra area. The hull would be heavy, at least for its Beam, so it has the momentum to smash through a chop, or maintain way, if the wind heads up for a short while. The 19th century way of doing it was to have a massive long keel, that was much deeper than usual, have deep "V" like section in the Hull, have very low free board, and have a very large main sail. Those boats were built long before the airplane was invented, so their characteristics came about by simple evolution, with little or no understanding of the aerodynamics involved. But they were able to recognize what worked better than the last time, so exaggerated those features. I think the key lesson here is to have a LOT of lateral area, along with good balance, if nothing else. Then make the sails quite flat. Doing so may rob them of power, but will give them lift at a tighter angle to the wind. But really. All this trouble just gets you ever diminishing returns, while compromising the usefulness of your boat in other points of sail. I once sailed my Siren 17 up a 40 ft wide channel, dead upwind, even with its crappy jib. People came out of their cottages to watch me and my good friend do it. Our secret was a lot of well executed short tacks, where we knew exactly what the boat was going to do each time. We even had to back the jib to make sure the bow came through the wind. The boat was that much of a pig, due to its Beam, high sides and cabin, as well as its light weight.  

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waikikin Senior Member

Already been sorted in New Zealand decades ago apparently... https://books.google.com.au/books?i...v=onepage&q=windmill boat new zealand&f=false Jeff.  

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Catamaran Sailing Techniques Part 5: sailing a cat downwind – with Nigel Irens

• Matthew Sheahan
• December 12, 2015

Choice of sails and an awareness of your VMG are important when sailing a catamaran downwind, says Nigels Irens

The right strategy for getting the best performance out of a catamaran downwind will depend very much on the speed potential built into the multihull you are sailing.

A bit of background here: any boat that sails slowly, irrespective of how many hulls it has, needs to set lots of sail area and sail deep downwind if it is to achieve a decent speed made good (VMG) – ie typically between 160° and 170° – or within 10-20° of the dead downwind line if you prefer.

Whether you are aboard a monohull or multihull, sailing dead downwind doesn’t usually work well in terms of VMG – mainly because in that condition apparent wind speed (AWS) is limited to true wind speed (TWS) minus your boat speed over the ground (SOG) so it is impossible to generate any apparent wind – as you go faster you simply sail away from it.

Wind shadow

Another problem is that sails tend to shadow one another on this course so it’s hard, for example, to get much help from a foresail that is in the wind shadow of the mainsail.

As it happens, this dead downwind course will also mean that you are running a permanent risk of an accidental gybe – particularly in any kind of seaway, although in a catamaran at least you won’t have the cyclic rolling problem that conventional single-hulled boats suffer from if they sail too deep downwind.

Keeping the main under control through the gybe is important, especially as many modern cruising mainsails are fully battened and have plenty of sail area

So assuming your catamaran is a bread-and-butter cruiser, without much performance capability, you’ll be doing much as you would do in an equivalent monohull, which is setting either a conventional symmetrical spinnaker or perhaps an asymmetric one.

Symmetric spinnaker

The symmetric one has the advantage that when you gybe there’s not much to do as the flow is simply reversed across the sail on the other gybe. On the other hand, to make the most of that sail you’d really need to set a conventional spinnaker pole – as seen on single-hulled boats of limited speed capability – and that means swapping the pole to the other side as you go through the gybe.

In reality, you don’t see many spinnaker poles on catamarans flying symmetrical spinnakers. When gybing, most people simply haul the new tack down to the new windward bow and allow the old tack to be drawn back by the new sheet on the new leeward side.

In practice, this arrangement works less well than you might hope, mainly because if the tack of the sail is to be able to function as a clew on the other gybe, then it needs to be cut quite high.

On the other hand when that corner of the sail is working as a tack it would work better if it was lower – and so able to be drawn right out to the windward bow.

Asymmetric spinnaker

For this reason most modern catamarans choose to fly an asymmetric spinnaker and tack it to the weather bow. If you go down this route and because it is asymmetric, you need to turn the sail inside out when you gybe.

Over the years sailmakers have managed to design these asymmetric sails so that they have more volume aloft, so that even when you are sailing quite deep angles the luff of the sail is setting well to windward (a bit like a kite) and so is able to ‘grab’ more wind that would have passed to windward of the boat and draw it across the sail from windward to leeward.

This configuration is pretty much as good as it gets for a cruising catamaran and a sail like this might be good for a range of apparent wind angles of between 160-90°.

Gennaker or screecher

The faster a boat sails, the more time it spends with the apparent wind forward of the beam, 90° or less. As a result, the standard downwind sail used by a true race boat, called a gennaker or screecher (US), looks more like a big jib. The faster the boat, the flatter the sail is cut. An iceboat – which is faster than anything on the draggy old water – sails with a single ‘mainsail’ which you’ll see set as flat as a board on all points of sailing.

Back in the domain of cruising catamarans these big downwind sails have a lot going for them because the beauty of any sail set forward of the mast is that if there should be a sudden wind increase the sheet can be released and the sail allowed to depower by streaming downwind.

That means that when on passage a cruising catamaran can always be rendered safe if things get a little out of hand. All being well it can be ‘snuffed’ – ideally while in the lee of the mainsail.

Unstable weather

If the weather is a bit unpredictable – perhaps there is a threat of tropical line squalls around, for example – then an experienced catamaran skipper might think of keeping average speeds up by using an asymmetric spinnaker while taking a reef or two in the mainsail. The latter can neither be dumped nor lowered if the boat is caught in sudden squall from abaft the beam.

Few cats have vangs, which means that the twist in the main is controlled by the mainsheet and traveller – if you have one

All would be well if you could turn the catamaran round head to wind to take in a reef if such a squall struck unexpectedly – perhaps at night – but the danger is that it may already be too late to round up in those conditions without the ability to depower that big mainsail through dumping the sheet or lowering the sail.

More will be said later on in this series about the safety issues that arise when cruising in a catamaran.

Do’s and don’ts

• DO get good advice from a catamaran-savvy sailmaker with regard to the choice of sails to match your cruising plans.
• DO keep abreast of what other catamaran sailors have learned over the years. Pooling experience makes sense and online forums help spread the word.
• DO try to put some time in on a beach cat in order to get used to the way a catamaran works. If you can handle one of those with confidence you should have no problem with a cruising cat.
• DON’T leave a full main up if cruising downwind in unstable weather – set a sail that’s flown ahead of the mast instead, it’s easier to lower or reef if the breeze builds.
• DON’T overlook the need to practise sail handling/changes in relatively benign conditions before having to perform them for real in a blow.
• DON’T forget the importance of prioritising VMG towards your destination. If the boat you are sailing is a faster multihull the longer route may well be the shortest in elapsed time.

Our eight-part Catamaran Sailing Skills series by Nigel Irens, in association with Pantaenius , is essential reading for anyone considering a catamaran after being more familiar with handling a monohull.

Part 6: Coping with heavy weather

Series author: nigel irens.

One name stands out when you think of multihull design: the British designer Nigel Irens.

His career began when he studied Boatyard Management at what is now Solent University before opening a sailing school in Bristol and later moving to a multihull yard. He and a friend, Mark Pridie, won their class in the 1978 Round Britain race in a salvaged Dick Newick-designed 31-footer. Later, in 1985, he won the Round Britain Race with Tony Bullimore with whom he was jointly awarded Yachtsman of the Year.

His first major design success came in 1984 when his 80ft LOA catamaran Formule Tag set a new 24-hour run, clocking 518 miles. During the 1990s it was his designs that were dominant on the racecourse: Mike Birch’s Fujicolour , Philippe Poupon’s Fleury Michon VIII , Tony Bullimore’s Apricot . Most famous of all was Ellen MacArthur’s 75ft trimaran B&Q, which beat the solo round the world record in 2005.

His designs have included cruising and racing boats, powerboats and monohulls, but it is multis he is best known for.

See the full series here

A special thanks to The Moorings, which supplied a 4800 cat out of their base in Tortola, BVI. www.moorings.com

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