Do catamarans...

[Twister_Ken]

...heave to?

Someone categorically told me that they do. I'd have thought if they do, they must make fairly impressive leeway. Anybody know from experience?

 

[Searush]

It probably depends on the relative size of head & main sails. Some models have huge genoas and small mains - which would make it pretty hard to heave to. I have read books that suggest lying a-hull is probably better provided the risk of "tripping" over any keel that may exist.

 

[boatbuilder]

My old wharram used to quite happily.

 

[douglas_family]

'Heavy Weather Sailing' has a story about a cat heave to. Lying a hull increased risk of capsize if breaking wave hight is eqivilent of beam. Running with drogue or sailing upwind with drogue or lying to sea anchor are recomended. (so the books say)

anyone have any experience of using a jordan drogue with a cat? the even pull makes this appealing but i'm not sure if it would provide to much drag and increase liklihood of being pooped?

 

[bilbobaggins]

They certainly do - and usually comfortably.

However, in seriously heavy weather, it would be prudent to avoid lying a-hull - as journo John Passmore in Heavenly Twins 'Lottie Warren' ( in 'Total Loss' Edition 2, and 'Yachting Monthly' ) learned the hard way.

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Scillypete]

mine does, and being a Prout is definitely of the huge genoa and small main persuasion.
She will slide sideways quite sedately but can also be made to forereach with a bit of tweaking of sails and rudder angles.

 

[boatmike]

Absolute piece of cake. No problem in a Prout anyway. Biggest problem is getting the bugger out of "irons" once stalled! Leeway is not as bad as you would think either as the keel area is actually quite big. Think of chopping the keels off, joining them together and rotating them by 180deg. Make a gert big fin keel would that! Dunno if a catyslac would though... better ask Talbot...

 

[kcrane]

BB385 also heaves to (as per Prout design) but it does slide sideways. As boatmike says, the problem is getting going again. You have to ease off the main to avoid it twisting you back up into the wind. Oh, and even at 8knts closed hauled, if you fling the wheel over but don't release the genoa, as tho to heave to, you stop flipping quickly.

 

[boatmike]

No change there then!