I saw the list.

Let's examine them.

1. Reduce sail early, earlier than on a monohull because without a fixed
keel there is no ultimate stability except in the upside down mode.

Absolutely true. Basically, it means you have a different boat that reacts
differently
to the conditions. After you're used to it, it's no big deal.
2. Reduce sail proportionately, most of today's cats rely on a powerful
mainsail and small, non-lapping headsails. These boats don't respond well
under headsail alone and can be overpowered by the main in a gale. A cat
mainsail should have three deep reefs and the spar should have a track for a
storm trysail.

Monos should have just as many reef points. Monos don't respond well in
heavy air either when carrying just a jib.

3. As on any boat, but especially in cat, be prepared to release sheets,
especially the mainsheet, in an instant. During gales sheets tend to become
entangled, so make a point of clearing and coiling them on every watch. Also
carefully monitor chafe on all furling lines.

"As on any boat..." Nothing different here about monos.

4. Consider your searoom very carefully. Cats make leeway, particularly in
big seas and are not close-winded. Avoid trying to make a windward
destination that might endanger the boat if you don't quite lay the mark
because of excessive leeway.

True, but again, this a peculiarity of cats. After you know about it, you
can deal with it.

5. Don't forget the engines. Most large cats have twin diesels, well
separated and they motor effectively. The engines help keep the stern in the
water and can provide a boost for keeping the boat into the wind.

I'd say this is an advantage over monos. Cats can also turn on their own
axis in very crowded areas. Try that with a 40' mono.

6. In really wild conditions you may have no choice but to run off. In this
case, I would want the option of deploying a sea anchor or parachute style
anchor. I don't think there is any situation where you would want to lie
ahull in a cat.

I don't think there are many situations when you'd want to lie ahull in a
mono. As to wild conditions, well, sure, this might be an issue. Then again,
if you plan properly, it shouldn't come up. You also have the sea anchor and
parachute options.

7. If you are new to multihull sailing, don't abandon your monohull
instincts. A gale is still a gale, and it is almost always the water that
does the damage, not the wind. Ultimately, seamanship is a matter of
positioning your boat so that it rides best in the water.

Seems like good advice no matter the boat.

8. Don't be afraid to change tactics if what you're trying doesn't work.
However, pay close attention to tacking and jibing in heavy weather, these
are times the boat is most vulnerable.

Again, good advice. True for all boats.

9. Try to avoid overloading the boat. Once a cat is overloaded it loses its
advantage of floating on top of the water and becomes sluggish and more of a
target for angry seas.

This is absolutely true. It's easy to load up a cat with all kinds of crap.
I mean it looks like you have plenty of room, and a lot of people are
packrats... they just have to have the second TV and the three large
suitcases of clothes even though they're in the tropics. Solution: Don't
overload.

10. In the end, just as a monohull always needs to carry a liferaft and
go-bag when sailing offshore, you should have a capsize plan and make sure
that emrgency supplies will be reachable.

Actually, and advantage that helps with 9. You don't need to carry a
liferaft... saves space and weight. The cat can't sink. So, all you need to
do is have things available in case of the ultimately and unlikely event of
a capsize.

"Simple Simon" wrote in message
...
Jon,

Scroll down to the bottom of the link she gave
and you'll find a list of ten reasons why this type
of cruising cat is dangerous enough to make a list
like this necessary. You won't find such a list on a
monohull site. That should tell you something.

S.Simon - a Captain who sails a man's boat

"Jonathan Ganz" wrote in message
...
Bull****. They're great rigs if you understand them. If you overload
them, over- or under-canvass them, then they're crap. Some designs
are not well thought out and are thus crap. If you sail them beyond
your knowledge and skill, they're crap. But, all of this can be said
for monohulls as well. It's the sailor, not the boat 99% of the time.

"Simple Simon" wrote in message
...
Only women and girly men are interested in Catamarans.

(Sorry Per!)

S.Simon - a Captain who knows multihulls are not real boats


"NH_/)_" wrote in message
...
Cats are looking to be a nice choice in the 38-40ft range



http://www.sailnet.com/collections/b...ing%20a%20Boat


NH_/)_