Royal Findhorn Yacht Club 12th & 13th July 2003.

The promise of good weather encouraged twenty catamarans to travel North to Findhorn for the Typhoon National Championships. The fleet consisted of Hurricanes, Hobie 16’s, Stealth’s, a Tornado, Spitfire & Dart 15 including a number of new faces. Considering travelling times of up to seven hours for some, an excellent turnout for the most Northerly catamaran racing event in the UK.

After battling the tide race at the narrows to get to the race area in the Moray Firth, three races were sailed on the Saturday on a Windward Leeward course in winds building from Force two to a strong five by the end of play.

The 2003 National Championship event for Nacra, Prindle and Inter and now Formula 18 catamarans is scheduled for October 13th through 16th in Pensacola Beach, Florida, according to Jack Young of Performance Catamarans. Columbus Day starts the racing, however registration will begin Sunday evening, followed by a Welcome Party and Skippers meeting, sponsored by Performance Catamarans. Racing will begin Monday morning, October 13th and continue through October 16th, weather permitting.

Here we will discuss the main differences between catamaran sailboats and dinghies. I sail and race both, and this, in my humble opinion, is what I consider to be important to know for racing catamarans. Note: This concerns beach cats and non-planing monohulls (keelboats and dinghies). If you're sailing an Aussie-18 or F-40 Cat, I have no idea.

First person present tense works best for this catamaran sailing story. It allows me to think and try to feel what I was thinking and feeling then.

Background: Port Aransas, Texas (on Mustang Island) Hobie Fleet 99 annual Sand Dune Regatta, after sailing the last race on Saturday

It's been a frustrating day. Wind 10 to 15 and gentle swells, but the courses were set with very long upwind and downwind legs, and very short reaches. Upwind, cross current and almost broadside to the wave action. Downwind about the same but with a few sleigh rides. All races were course VIIs.

I recently participated in a catamaran regatta where I managed to start both days of catamaran racing whithout my trusty Hobie Bridle Fly. (That's the red mylar one in the Hobie Catalog, part CM7703 $15.00) I found it much more difficult to determine my best tacking angles sailing both upwind and down. Do you use a bridle fly or wind indicator such as a Telo Cat on your catamaran? Please vote in the new poll at the right of this page.

If you are a catamaran sailor with thoughts on this issue, as always, you can comment by clicking on the "comments" link.