During recent years the concept of larger catamarans has become heavily focused on, not only in Europe but in the U.S. as well. Their popularity for sailing vacations has dramatically increased, especially in the Caribbean. They are built in a range of sizes and designs and where by use of modern materials and building methods it has been further developed. The stability of a catamaran is a blessing for those with a genuine interest in sailing but have yet to develop their sea legs. Large catamarans are incredibly safe, probably the safest type of vessel afloat. This is due to hull stability which increases much more rapidly with size than does the power of the wind to overturn the boat. The fact that multihulls don't heel as much when sailing allows better use of both leeward and windward sides, increasing the capacity of comfortable cruising with more people on board as shown by the many large catamarans used for day-excursions and the crewed charter industry in general. More Speed and Less Heeling As wind and boat speed increase, wave resistance becomes of increasing importance. Wave resistance is proportionally made lower by additional hull length and even greater by additional cross-sectional hull area on the water line. In sum, the larger the catamaran (48ft. plus), the more wind pressure is required for a wave-induced capsize. Larger catamarans are far superior in this respect to the conventional monohull power or sailing yacht of similar length. The concept of little or no angle of heel becomes a great advantage, particularly if you have children on board. They can play around on the boat, unconcerned if for instance you are in the middle of a tacking maneuver. Vastly More Space Onboard Compared to monohulls of equal length, these larger catamarans have far more space above deck. This allows your crew to be comfortably spread out in good weather; your guests aboard can find an excellent spot to recline either in the sun or under the shade of the sails. The net trampolines (esp. found on the faster designs) make excellent hammocks in good weather and while docked. Larger catamarans feature a vast amount of interior living space which is great for privacy, with their roomy berths and galleys with separate bath and toilet facilities. Some of you might be saying to yourselves "if I purchase a boat that is 48ft. or above, it had -better- feature excellent interior volume!", but the trick has been to design a spacious boat that will not weigh too much (since extra weight will reduce windward performance and speed under sail). |
