Catamaran Sailing Confidence

By Grant HeadifenDirector of Education for NauticEd and Nick Harvey North American Manager for Lagoon Catamarans

getting started NAVIGATION

This PDF version is non interactive. You’ll find your best experience will be to view either the online version at www.nauticed.org or the iPad App version. Search for Catamaran Sailing on iTunes App Store.

TAKING THE TEST

This eBook app represents the content of the NauticEd Catamaran Confidence course. If you would like to add this course to your Sailing Certification, you will need to take and pass the associated tests at the end of each module. You can take the test either online or via the NauticEd iPad testing app. It does not matter via which because they

both speak to the same database in the cloud. When you see this image, it indicates you should either go online

or boot up your iPad Testing App.

To take the test online and/or on the iPad, make sure you have set up your free NauticEd student account at NauticEd.

To take the test on the iPad, download the iPad Testing App. If the test does not appear for you, tap the button at the top left of the Testing App and then tap “Refresh Test Questions”. Both the App and the online database are conencted in the cloud.

We’re so glad that you’ve decided to invest in yourself via this course. If you have any issues, please contact us at: info@NauticEd.org or call us on +1 512 696 1070.

If you’re taking this course because you are thinking about taking a bareboat charter on a catamaran, contact us we can help you with your bareboat booking arrangements and make lots of suggestions all at no fee to you.

NauticEd would like to offer thanks to Lagoon Catamarans for providing much of the professional media and for being one of our biggest proponents.

Now, bring me that horizon!

HOW TO USE THIS EBOOK READ THIS

Catamaran Sailing Confidence

Module 1 - On Board

Module 1 on Board

2

Cover Photo and Interior Photos Courtesy of:

Nicolas Claris and Lagoon Catamarans

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................3

M1.1 MOVING ON BOARD ...................................................................4

M1.2 DISCOVERING THE SCENE .....................................................7

M1.3 STOWING YOUR GEAR ........................................................... 12

M1.4 LIFE ABOARD ............................................................................. 13

M1.5 DINGHY MANAGEMENT ......................................................... 14

Module 1 on Board

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the World of Catamarans. When you come on board a Catamaran, you’re going to realize that however you got there, all decisions were good because your are where you are. Like chocolate and other things, Catamarans are good!

Catamarans can open up a whole new world of sailing in terms of comfort and space. And you can probably get a lot more takers when the suggestion of sailing for a week in the islands comes up.

In the online version the graphic to the right is a slide show.

Photo: Lagoon - Nicolas Claris

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M1.1 MOVING ON BOARD

compared to a monohull, moving around on board a catamaran is just as easy of not easier. Even though, from the dock, it looks daunting as you are looking at a 20 foot + beam, calm down, what you are about to read will change your perception of catamarans forever.

In the online version the graphic to the right is a slide show.

Photo: Lagoon - Nicolas Claris

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GETTING ONBOARD So, the cat StandS proud next to the dock: Is it tied dock side to — or stern to? If the boat is tied dock side to, the easiest way to get onboard will be to use the amidships gate which is generally an interval break in the lifeline with perhaps a handy step in the middle of the hull.

To give a high headroom in the cabins below in each hull, the freeboard is often high. And so depending on the dock height, it can often be a high step onto the hull deck. Thus we’ve developed Stepping Onboard Rule #1: Sometimes it’s a high or long step on board - or right as you are about to take that first giant step for humankind, the boat moves with a wave. So DO NOT attempt to climb aboard carrying your gear, as this multiplies the risks of you falling in the water, injuring yourself and getting your iPhone wet right at the start of a trip. And you might say “oh that’s obvious and

easy” but... perhaps you can at least teach some of your less seaworthy crew this rule. Always put the gear that you are carrying on the boat first and be sure not to obstruct the area where YOU are planning on boarding. Phfew! Welcome on board!

Photo: Lagoon - Nicolas Claris

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The second option or ability to get on board is at the stern, if the stern of the boat is close enough to the dock. Then you can venture to step aboard via the transom closest to the dock. The benefit of option 2 over the side boarding method is that you will not have to haul the weight of your body up to the deck level. The downside is that if the dock is high, stepping down onto the very low transom step can be daunting. So help with the crew, luggage and supplies will be needed.

There is another trick to bringing a boat closer to the dock and that is to put your weight onto the dockline. Careful however, when you release your weight, the boat tends to go back out.

Ultimately the goal is to live to sail another day - and to help your crew do the same thing.

Right then - that was easy - let’s go check it out.

Photo: Lagoon - Nicolas Claris

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M1.2 DISCOVERING THE SCENE

once you are aboard your catamaran, you will find approximately 4 different living areas: First, the cockpit, salon and galley are usually all on one level and make the area feel huge. You’re not going to be tripping over each other here

In the online version the graphic to the right is a slide show..

Photo: Lagoon - Nicolas Claris

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Many times the helm station is slightly raised so that the helmsperson can see over the top of the salon and galley roof. You’ll also notice that the helm station area probably has a seat that can seat two or three people and becomes quite the social gathering area for the navigator and helmsperson and a crew member whilst underway.

In the online version the graphic to the right is a slide show.

Photo: Lagoon - Nicolas Claris

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Second, the foredeck. What will strike you about the foredeck on a catamaran is that it is very large, very flat and very comfortable to lie down on. It’s usually made of netting, is a little bouncy and is great for the kids or the kid in us. Underway, it provides a fun area to get sloshed with water from the waves. It’s also a great dolphin viewing area and the best star gazing place on the planet.

In the online version the graphic to the right is a slide show.

Photo: Lagoon - Nicolas Claris

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The 3rd general area of the catamaran is the cabins and bathrooms. These are generally located in the hulls and can range from a bunk to a full queen size bed depending on what type of catamaran you are sailing on. Catamarans above 40 feet usually have 4 berths and 4 bathrooms.

In the online version the graphic to the right is a slide show.

Photo: Lagoon - Nicolas Claris

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Lastly, the aft deck is positioned behind the cockpit. It’s a great area for hanging out on but be careful - it’s a man overboard generating device.

In the online version the graphic to the right is a slide show.

Anecdote: Once underway on a 45 foot

cat between Tobago Keys and Union

Island in the West Indies, and our friend Michael fell

overboard from this area. We were on a reach at

about 8 knots in about 4-5 foot swells. Fortunately,

he grabbed the dinghy as it went past and pulled

himself into it. We then winched the dinghy back up

to the stern and he was able to climb back on board

with out slowing down the boat. After a severe and

brutal round of heckling, we eventually commended

him for yelling his own “man overboard” call as

he went over. The result could have been vastly

different. Please see the suggested man overboard

routine in Module 3.

Photo: Lagoon - Nicolas Claris

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M1.3 STOWING YOUR GEAR

the beauty of catamaranS iS the amount of storage available to all that are going to live aboard and share the space whether for 1 day sail, 2 week vacation or 1 year round the world trip.

As shown on the illustration below, all the areas in yellow in this 50 foot catamaran are actually storage space.

Hard to beat isn’t it? So, go ahead, make your self comfortable, put your stuff away and take ownership of your area!

Anecdote: On one of our first catamaran trips,

one of the crew members showed up at the airport

with a huge rollaboard suit case. A nightmare for a monohull.

A cat - no problem! It stowed away in one of the holds and

wasn’t seen again until the end of the week. NOTE: This is

not permission for everyone to bring huge rollaboards.

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M1.4 LIFE ABOARD

the characteriSticS about life onboard a catamaran under sail are very different to life onboard a monohull. First of all, you will be able to spend 90% of your day time on one level (cockpit/salon/helm area) and only have to go down in the cabins at night.

Watches are made easier if you plan on doing long time passages. On watch, under autopilot, you will be able to simply walk around the boat; you can stay inside the boat at night if you don’t want to be outside so long as you still maintain a good look out. The stress on the crew is greatly reduced.

The big advantage of a catamaran in terms of life on board is the ability to stretch out and have your own space.

Anecdote: The suggestion of a trip to the British Virgin Islands

rounded up 12 of our close friends. One of the hardest things about

organizing a trip like this was how to split out who goes on which boat. As

great as the islands are this actually can be pretty stressful. The compromise

was that we’d get two catamarans, one of them a 46 footer and every night

we all had dinner on the big cat. Try that on a monohull! Actually ... don’t!

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M1.5 DINGHY MANAGEMENT

dinghy iS a great name for a dinghy. Because it’s this dumb little thing that follows along behind you and gets in the way. And every now and then it seems to reach out and untie it self from the boat (depending on who tied it on) and it ends up 500 yards behind the cat before someone notices it gone. Then there are the times when it purposefully places its own painter under your boat which wraps around the propeller causing the engine to stall always in the tightest of spots. If only it had been better named, perhaps it would be better behaved.

A painter is the “rope” going from the front of the dinghy and is used to tied the dinghy to the boat.

Jokes aside, the dinghy can cause you some crazy problems. None really unique to

a cat but the issues are always worth mentioning because this sailing thing is a continuous learning process. If we can do a little more learning by reading rather than experience then sometimes that is great.

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However, the dinghy is more convenient than the pain described above. It’s great for getting around and exploring shallow areas.

If towing, the dinghy on a cat gets tied off to an outer cleat at the aft of the boat. When under sail, the painter should be long enough so that when the cat is going down a swell the dinghy is dong the same. Cat going up a swell - dinghy going up. This reduces the shock load on the painter, the dinghy eye hook and the boat cleat and stops it from washing up close to the boat each time your cat is climbing a swell.

The dinghy knot. We assume you know how to tie a reliable cleat hitch but chances are your crew are not well versed. This means teaching and checking. Teaching the cleat hitch and then discretely checking the knot.

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Many cats are equipped with a very nice dinghy davit. This is used to haul the boat out of the water to reduce the drag caused from the dinghy and to reduce the wear on the dinghy. The dinghy davit on a Catamaran is much easier to operate than on a monohull because of it’s easy access to the winches.

IMPORTANT: If you’re towing the dinghy, prior to the engines being engaged, pull the dinghy up close to the rear of the boat so that the painter is too short to get wrapped under the boat and around the prop. You can also pull the dinghy up to amidships and tie it off there, but again ensure that the painter isn’t long enough to wrap into the prop. Personal Guarantee - you’ll probably forget this and chop up the painter on your next trip. This is not a fun scenario. Usually when you are maneuvering under power you’re in close quarters with other boats

and the time when you need both engines operational. KEEP THE PAINTER CLEAR

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Don’t put trash in the dinghy. We thought that was a great idea one time. One time! The trash gets washed around in the dinghy, the bag gets torn and you have floating rotten trash in your dinghy.

When starting the outboard - PLEASE - watch what your elbow is going to do to the people behind you.

At night, in calm conditions, the dinghy can bang annoyingly against the hull with every wave. The cat gives you plenty of opportunity to tie the dinghy across the stern of the boat so that it can’t move around so much and cause the incessant banging.

When you take your dinghy ashore and beach it in the sand, know the direction of the tide. If it’s coming in - it’ll grab your dinghy and drag it out to sea.

Boarding a dinghy is like rock climbing. You should have three points of contact on something sturdy at all time. i.e. two feet and a hand or two hands and a foot.

Remember - that iPhone doesn’t like to get wet especially in salt water. In washing machine water you can just dry it out in a low temp oven for 24 hours then sit it in uncooked rice for three days - but salt water? Doesn’t work.