Folding Tri- the ultimate Med boat?

[Sea Change]

Talking to a friend the other day about sailing in the Med and all the ups and downs that come with that.
We got on to the choice of boat, and a few points came up:
- excellent light airs performance
- multihull for both shallow draft and resistance to swell; in crowded places you want to have every possible anchoring option available
- compact for cheaper berthing
- no need for large stowage/tankage because you're never more than a few hours away from somewhere that you can stock up.

We concluded that a small multi could be ideal, and specifically a folding Tri. Bonus points if you could tow it by road, to reduce long delivery trips.

My experience is coloured by my only Med sailing to date, a summer in the Balearics. Crowded anchorages which are completely open to the sea and can become choppy at the slightest change in conditions. Very light winds punctuated by fierce thunderstorms. It was interesting, and has made everything we've done since that seem pretty easy.

I know almost nothing about folding Tris, other than that they exist. I think there are a couple of owners of them on the forum? Would be curious to see what the reality of them is.

(And I should add that this is very much a thought experiment, centred around what sailing might look like for me in 20+ years time)

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Where do you want me to start? And whereabouts are you.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

In every possible respect it sounds like a complete disaster as a Med boat.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

This is one of the biggest road transportable ones. You wouldn’t call it a trailer sailer, it takes about 3 hours to assemble on the teailer after towing, and needs three humans with hair on their chests to do it. But it’ll sit on the trailer or trolley, folded, assembled, ready to go. Just it’s too wide til you take it apart, to traill.

Advantages, as you say. Light, trailable, low draught. Very, very fast. Its a rare sail not to see double figures, not unknown to see 20kn, though you won’t need the log to tell you that. Every part of your anatomy will know. Accommodation, compact. Like a Contessa 32 with just a small area of standing headroom. But we have all other griwn up facilities, and a really good cockpit tent. We love ours. Do you want a sail?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

In every possible respect it sounds like a complete disaster as a Med boat.

It would still be my first choice. I can’t really see why you’d say that TBH.

 

[westernman]

This is one of the biggest road transportable ones. You wouldn’t call it a trailer sailer, it takes about 3 hours to assemble on the teailer after towing, and needs three humans with hair on their chests to do it. But it’ll sit on the trailer or trolley, folded, assembled, ready to go. Just it’s too wide til you take it apart, to traill.
View attachment 193897
Advantages, as you say. Light, trailable, low draught. Very, very fast. Its a rare sail not to see double figures, not unknown to see 20kn, though you won’t need the log to tell you that. Every part of your anatomy will know. Accommodation, compact. Like a Contessa 32 with just a small area of standing headroom. But we have all other griwn up facilities, and a really good cockpit tent. We love ours. Do you want a sail?

The problem with that looks like it will be very expensive to park in a marina, and the poor accommodation compared to the berth costs.

I understand the OP is looking to sail in the med. This is quite uncommon. Seriously.

Most "sailing" boats are used to motor around the headland to an anchorage. Spend the day there, having lunch under the shade, drinking wine, watching the sun go down and then motoring back to the marina and then a shower and dinner.

For the above normal catamaran is better suited. It will have much better accommodation. Something like a Lagoon or whatever. It won't sail well, certainly not to windward, but will motor well enough if you avoid and heavy conditions.

Is the OP a real sailor, or a dock queen?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

The problem with that looks like it will be very expensive to park in a marina, and the poor accommodation compared to the berth costs.

I understand the OP is looking to sail in the med. This is quite uncommon. Seriously.

Most "sailing" boats are used to motor around the headland to an anchorage. Spend the day there, having lunch under the shade, drinking wine, watching the sun go down and then motoring back to the marina and then a shower and dinner.

For the above normal catamaran is better suited. It will have much better accommodation. Something like a Lagoon or whatever. It won't sail well, certainly not to windward, but will motor well enough if you avoid and heavy conditions.

Is the OP a real sailor, or a dock queen?

Er, it folds for marinas, has a fully shaded cockpit, and I guess really isn’t suited to those who are too idle to raise the mainsail. But if you do, ypu won’t need to moter. It sails to windward rather better than any 30 ft mono, and sails off the wind better than any 50ft mono. The cat, sure, has all that accommodation, but will most certainly cost you in a marna, not be road transportable, and unless ypu have very deep pockets, will sail like a barn door.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

The problem with that looks like it will be very expensive to park in a marina, and the poor accommodation compared to the berth costs.

I think you may have missed the first word in the post title - "Folding".

 

[Sea Change]

Is the OP a real sailor, or a dock queen?

Well I've been living aboard since July 2021 and the last time I spent a night in a marina was the 1st of January 2023, when I started my Atlantic crossing. Now in my third season of Caribbean/Bahamas sailing with every night spent at anchor, except for a few days in a commercial dock in Great Inagua where I had to lay a spiders' web of lines and anchors to keep myself off the sheet piling walls.

So, no, I don't describe myself as a dock queen.

 

[Sea Change]

This is one of the biggest road transportable ones. You wouldn’t call it a trailer sailer, it takes about 3 hours to assemble on the teailer after towing, and needs three humans with hair on their chests to do it. But it’ll sit on the trailer or trolley, folded, assembled, ready to go. Just it’s too wide til you take it apart, to traill.
View attachment 193897
Advantages, as you say. Light, trailable, low draught. Very, very fast. Its a rare sail not to see double figures, not unknown to see 20kn, though you won’t need the log to tell you that. Every part of your anatomy will know. Accommodation, compact. Like a Contessa 32 with just a small area of standing headroom. But we have all other griwn up facilities, and a really good cockpit tent. We love ours. Do you want a sail?

I would love a sail! But I'm in the Abacos and heading north, I think you're based further south?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I would love a sail! But I'm in the Abacos and heading north, I think you're based further south?

Folding tris exist further north too. Both Angus and us have Dragonflys. You need to see a Corsair too. Another approach to the folding bit.

 

[Sea Change]

Folding tris exist further north too. Both Angus and us have Dragonflys. You need to see a Corsair too. Another approach to the folding bit.

Where are you based? For some reason I thought you were in the windies.

I gather that Corsair, Dragonfly, and Farrier are the main names. This is all very much hypothetical but which would you choose for something that spends a few weeks at a time cruising, with occasional marina visits, and goes on the road maybe two or four times a year?

 

[dunedin]

It would still be my first choice. I can’t really see why you’d say that TBH.

If you look at StickFingers photo he prefers motor boats.
Each have different priorities. Not suggesting these are SF's, but some on the other place think that air conditioning, generators, stabilisers, electric toilets etc are essential for the Med.
And place less emphasis on going "yee haaaa" with the kite up in a good breeze. Different priorities - and from the OP I suspect, who doesn't seem to need these domestic frills to travel further afield.

 

[mikegunn]

I understand why you are considering a trimaran. I owned one for twenty years and they guarantee fast, exciting sailing but that’s not what cruising in the Mediterranean is all about. Westernman summed it up well. It’s about cruising at a leisurely pace under engine or sail, whichever be the more convenient. You are obviously an experienced sailor who enjoys living on the hook. Unfortunately I can assure you that you would not enjoy living on the hook during Mediterranean winters, particularly in a trimaran, even though it is feasible. From the beginning of October through to the end of March most Mediterranean sailors have their vessels snugged up in a marina or high and dry in a boat park. There’s a reason for that. Weather! I spent nine very enjoyable years living on board a sailing vessel in the Mediterranean. That vessel was a 12 m bridge deck catamaran that turned out to be perfect for my needs. Why? Because it was basically a floating caravan with all the associated creature comforts. It was extremely stable in all weathers, very manoeuvrable and extremely comfortable for the six months of Mediterranean winters.

Mike

 

[Sticky Fingers]

It would still be my first choice. I can’t really see why you’d say that TBH.

Tiny. Hot. Useless accommodation. No privacy. No shade. No aircon. Stern to berthing awkward at best. Rolly at anchor. No local dealers. No local repair experts.

Utterly awful, I don’t get it. But if you like it so much, why not buy one?

IMHO of course. M

 

[Sea Change]

I understand why you are considering a trimaran. I owned one for twenty years and they guarantee fast, exciting sailing but that’s not what cruising in the Mediterranean is all about. Westernman summed it up well. It’s about cruising at a leisurely pace under engine or sail, whichever be the more convenient. You are obviously an experienced sailor who enjoys living on the hook. Unfortunately I can assure you that you would not enjoy living on the hook during Mediterranean winters, particularly in a trimaran, even though it is feasible. From the beginning of October through to the end of March most Mediterranean sailors have their vessels snugged up in a marina or high and dry in a boat park. There’s a reason for that. Weather! I spent nine very enjoyable years living on board a sailing vessel in the Mediterranean. That vessel was a 12 m bridge deck catamaran that turned out to be perfect for my needs. Why? Because it was basically a floating caravan with all the associated creature comforts. It was extremely stable in all weathers, very manoeuvrable and extremely comfortable for the six months of Mediterranean winters.

Mike

Thanks, I should have maybe been clearer that this wouldn't be for full time liveaboard use.

We did five months in the Balearics in an undercanvassed 1970s 39ft centre cockpit Moody. Progress was certainly leisurely! I figure that to stand a better chance of doing any sailing at all, we'd need to look at something with excellent light winds performance.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Ah, the misconceptions, thst’ll be it then. Why the hell would a tri roll at anchor? It’s bloomin gin palaces that do that. The accommodation isn’t spacious, but then no sailboat is unless it’s a cat or a superyacht. But I’ve made no bones about it. The thing is a sailing machine, that’s what it does.

Med cruising, if it’s about being sedate, and motoring everywhere, I’ll not bother going, thanks.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Thanks, I should have maybe been clearer that this wouldn't be for full time liveaboard use.

We did five months in the Balearics in an undercanvassed 1970s 39ft centre cockpit Moody. Progress was certainly leisurely! I figure that to stand a better chance of doing any sailing at all, we'd need to look at something with excellent light winds performance.

Something perhaps that can show 800sq ft of white sail in light airs, and weighs 2 tons?

 

[Sea Change]

Ignoring those who either didn't read the question, don't know anything about the subject, or are making a lot of assumptions about me, my preferences, my plans, and my skills and experience... what are the actual downsides of a folding tri?
I presume that they are fairly expensive.
I've heard that they can be a bit noisy at anchor as they tip from one side to the other- I guess you could fairly easily do something about that (no boat I've ever owned has floated perfectly level!)
Obviously there will be less accommodation than the same length cat, but how does it compare to a mono?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Sailing performance may or may not be excellent, but IMHO the compromises in every other aspect of its design make it useless as a med boat. I’ve never seen a trimaran in the med despite spending several weeks there every summer, that may be coincidence of course. Or maybe the boat buying public know nothing.