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A catamaran features two equal-sized parallel hulls. It offers outstanding stability from the geometrical point of view. Though a catamaran is primarily used as a fishing boat, its fantastic stability has expanded its uses over time. It’s also used in recreational activities. A lot of people ask whether you can sail a catamaran solo? How big a catamaran can a single person handle?
Sailing a catamaran solo is possible, although a single person can’t handle large boats. A boat 35’ to 45’ in length is considered ideal when sailing solo. Furthermore, a boat weighing more than 9 tons can trigger serious trouble for the solo rider.
Boating Guide Staff
This article talks about sailing a catamaran solo along with some exciting and helpful tips for solo sailing. Keep reading this article until the end for lots of information.
How Is Catamaran Different?
Besides their mechanical structure, catamarans are entirely different from other boats. Before you decide to sail catamaran all by yourself, it’s a good idea to learn the basics and how it differs from other boats. This section covers all that.
Sailing Differences
Catamarans deliver a unique sailing experience. The boat’s motion will be different, and they won’t lean over so quickly.
Boating Guide Staff
Let’s see a few more sailing differences that a catamaran poses.
- Catamaran requires sailors to trim the boat differently.
- You’ll have to pay attention to other factors that you could’ve ignored in other boats. These include wind directions.
- These boats don’t react much to the wind speed. Consequently, you can’t be certain during strong winds whether you need to reduce or increase the power.
- In the course of light winds or upwind situations, moving forward can be complicated.
- Since the boat doesn’t lean over easily, the sailing experience can be less tiring.
Structural Differences
- The space between the hulls is filled by a cockpit, cabin, deck, etc., depending on the available space. It is one of the main reasons why it’s preferred as a fishing boat. Also, the open space can be an excellent area for relaxing in the sun.
- Their design allows sailing them in shallow water as deep water under the hulls isn’t necessary.
- Catamarans are comfortable to anchor almost anywhere. You can halt at any bay at night.
- The boats’ design promotes privacy since both the hulls are separated by a room, cabin, or something similar.
- These boats are faster. Why? That’s because any vessel’s waterline decides its top speed. The longer the waterline, the faster it can sail.
Sailing A Catamaran Requires Knowledge
You must know that you’ll require additional training, skills, and knowledge to sail a catamaran efficiently. According to ASA (American Sailing Association), they’ve developed a relevant course. Find more details here at the ASA. If you’re an experienced monohull sailor, you’re already a step ahead to get started with a multihull catamaran.
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However, you don’t necessarily require any certification. Instead, you can always opt for a local veteran or a pro who can teach you the basics of sailing a catamaran in one day. While you can gain knowledge so quickly, it’s not a good idea to get into the water so soon. Make sure you practice for a while in freshwater under professional supervision.
10 Tips For Solo Sailing
This section covers ideal tips for solo sailing that’ll come in handy.
1 – Practice Your Moves
You’ll be sailing alone, so practice all the basic and advanced boating moves. Moving forward, backward, turning, etc., are some manoeuvers that you must practice. That’s because no one will be present on board to rely on for your mishaps. It would be best if you practiced not only them but also master each of them.
2 – Prepare A To-do List
Sailing alone will be tiresome; your mind won’t be in a state to yield the best ideas on the boat. So, it’s best to have a checklist (to-do list) well prepared in advance. It should contain solutions to the most common problems.
Things like, are you going slow? How can you increase or reduce the speed? Is the trim correct? How do I correct the trim? When should I rest?
3 – Consider Emergency Situations
Most people, especially young sailors, often ignore the safety precautions and emergencies. Since an emergency never comes knocking on the door, you MUST be well prepared. Have a first-aid kit ready, gather some common knowledge to know what to do in various emergencies, etc.
Always think and prepare for the worst-case scenario. That’s the best way to avoid getting blank in tight situations. Here, you should read this: Staying Safe On A Catamaran: 24 Essential Tips.
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4 – Carry Essentials
Being the lone sailer can make you forget the most essentials that you must be carrying. Stuff like a life jacket, knives, fuel, food, freshwater, something to start the fire, fishing rod, torches, and batteries, etc., and the list is endless. Calculate your trip time, and make sure to carry extra food and fresh water supplies.
5 – Check The Weather
Just ensure that you’re not sailing on a bad weather day. Sunny and clear days are considered best for boating. If entering the open waters, even a slight storm can be troublesome. It’s advised to perform a weather forecast study before planning your boating trip.
6 – Have A Positive Attitude
Most people lose their minds and ability to think wisely in tight situations. Having a positive attitude all the time gives strength to fight and overcome any given situation.
According to psychology, a healthy and robust mind plays a vital role in gaining success. So it’s essential to have a positive attitude and stay firm no matter what.
7 – Inspect The Boat
It is imperative. If you’re not well-versed in boat inspection, don’t hesitate to hire a professional. Get your boat inspected for any faults and damages. Ensure that the boat is in perfect condition to sail in almost any given environment.
8 – Learn From Others
You can always spend some time talking to other experienced and veteran sailors. They can always tell you the right thing to do when sailing a catamaran solo. It’s always a good concept to learn some tricks from such people’s playbooks. Sometimes other people have a good idea that can help you. Take a read of this tale of horror about what can (and did) happen when someone doesn’t listen to good sound safety advice. When Boat Launches Go Horribly Wrong – A Tale Of Tragedy
9 – Keep Records
Some websites advise keeping a record of the video footage that you’ll capture throughout your journey. You can always manage to equip a camera at the most important place on your boat.
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It can capture your sail actions, and who knows, maybe you might capture something rare and beautiful. Apart from that, the video footage may also be used as proof in case of any mishap.
10 – Anchor Swiftly
Catamarans have a large area exposed to wind, which increases their surface area. As a result, your boat can drift-off even with a slight blow. Anchoring as quickly as possible is the best way to maintain the right position.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Although you’ll need some training and knowledge before getting started with catamarans, many beginners start their journey just after a few days of taking lessons. For more information about Catamarans, read our article A Complete Catamaran Guide.
Due to multiple hulls, catamarans become more expensive. But it’s always worth every penny since you’ll get a fascinating interior along with everything you can ask for on a boat. For more information about Catamarans, read our article A Complete Catamaran Guide.
Sailing alone can pose a more significant threat than sailing in a group since you’re on your own. Furthermore, if you decided to get in the water without essential training and knowledge, this could get even worse. Sailing alone is considered riskier than skiing. People die while sailing due to high speed, fallings, and collisions. For more information about sailing safety on catamarans, read our article Staying Safe On A Catamaran: 24 Essential Tips.
It’s always advisable to learn to sail from an expert. They’ll teach you the basics and lots of secrets to sailing efficiently. On the other hand, you can teach yourself, but that’s an improper way of gaining knowledge. You’ll end up gaining limited knowledge, and you’ll never realize the important things you’ve missed. For more information about sailing safety on catamarans, read our article Staying Safe On A Catamaran: 24 Essential Tips.
Certification isn’t required for sailing. All that matters is sound knowledge, experience, and skills. Speaking of knowledge, do you know how to sail in rough seas? Find out now by reading Are Catamarans Safe In Rough Seas.
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Of course, they’re right. Sailing courses such as those offered by ASA (discussed above) are designed by experts that feature everything you need to know before sailing a catamaran. Including what to do when you hit rough waters. Find out now about catamarans and rough water by reading Are Catamarans Safe In Rough Seas.
The Last Few Knots
By the end of this article, we’ve discussed how a catamaran is different from other boats. We also covered a few fantastic tips for solo sailing. Although sailing a catamaran alone isn’t recommended, but you can always willingly take it up as a challenge. If you’ve never been alone in the open water, we suggest trying your skills in closed water.
The wide beam of a catamaran may increase the docking cost. You can avoid these expenses by looking for a quiet and private area and anchor your boat there to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Good luck!
Sources
- Featured image “catamaran-at-sunset” by jdlasica is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catamaran, Accessed March 4, 2021.
- https://asa.com/news/2013/01/18/catamaran-sailing/, Accessed March 4, 2021.
- https://asa.com/certifications/asa-114-cruising-catamaran/, Accessed March 4, 2021.
- https://www.quora.com/Can-a-catamaran-be-sailed-solo, Accessed March 4, 2021.
- https://www.yachtingworld.com/news/10-top-tips-for-shorthanded-sailing-from-leading-british-figaro-sailor-alan-roberts-66696, Accessed March 4, 2021.
- https://www.multihulls-world.com/tips-for-singlehanded-sailors, Accessed March 4, 2021.
- https://www.moorings.com/blog/what-is-a-catamaran-beginners-guide, Accessed March 4, 2021.
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