Conference unifix::sailing

    
    
    
    I was always under the impression that cat boats, as a rig, did
    not sail well to windward.  I would like to know more, as I have
    always thought they looked to be a very stable boat and I like some
    of the more traditional lines.
    
    
    

    The lack of a jib is at least part of the problem. 
    
    The 'tunnel' between the jib and main creates more lift from
    the leading edge of the main. Without the jib, you lose this
    advantage. If the boat is gaff rigged, you also lose some of
    the leading edge, thus losing lift to windward.
    
    The cats I've sailed also tended to have strong lee helm, requiring
    a lot of rudder (thus drag) to stay on the wind.

    The big virtues of a cat are simplicity, and a big cockpit.

Having sailed my dad's marshall 22 for 7 years or so, i will offer the
following technical advice: don't expect to sail well to windward.

You can improve your performance with a few simple tactics, however. 

Adjust throat and peak halliards so the throat doesn't have wrinkles. 
In heavy weather, reef early and keep both halliards as tight as possible.

Crack the sheets. Don't try to pinch it going really close hauled.
The best practical relative wind angle on the wind will be about 50-55
degrees. Any closer seems to stall a catboat. The centerboard must be all the 
way down, of course.

Enjoy the catboat for what it is: a delightfully comfortable (unless you are 
the one fighting the notorious weather helm) means to get to places even 
other sailboats can't get into (Tashmoo on the Vineyard comes to mind).
Try joining the catboat association, as colorful a collection of sailors as
you'll ever find. (i can get the info if you want)

good luck, and enjoy the tradition.

paul

    paul-
    
    can you get me the information on the cat-boat association. thanks
    
    by the way, the florida bay hen is great for day sailimg with the
    family & friends.  the cockpit is plenty large and comfortable,
    and the cabin is adequate for our needs.  i was trying to have my
    cake and eat it too by trying to get americas cup sailing performance
    out of it.    unreasonable huh!
    
    thanks
    
    joe

    If you're willing to compromise simplicity, and if the boat has
    a jib-headed rig, you could add a short bowsprit and a jib to
    help windward performance. A 21' boat should be big enough to 
    make this practical. This was, by the way, a common variation
    for the summer months with the larger Cape Cod cats. They used
    the jib with the gaff-headed rig, but I don't think I would 
    bother unless your boat has a long enough leading edge to make
    it worthwhile, usually meaning jib-headed.

    Ref .5
    
    Back when I was growing up, our family used to have a 14' Wood Pussy
    - originally a cat rig. It had all the characteristics of the classic
    Cape Cod Cat - shallow draft (centerboard), wide beam, big cockpit,
    big rudder, etc. However for exactly some of the reasons mentioned
    already, I remember Dad took it to the yard (in Buzzards Bay - I
    forget which) and over one winter had it re-rigged into a sloop.
    (I forgot to mention this was a marconi-rigged cat boat originally.)
    
    The mast was moved back, a jib added, boom shortened and it was
    a truly wonderful boat for me to learn the basics of sailing in.
    It doesn't have to be a big boat to convert it - the smaller, the
    easier! As a kid I had a great time taking my friends sailing in
    a boat that resembled those of the grownups (but had the desirable
    size and safety features of the cat).
    
    Pete

Try contacting Ben Brewster in Duxberry MA regarding the Catboat
Asc. He's the current president. I'm afraid i don't know his
number. If this fails, try Marshall Marine, Inc, South Dartmouth
(Padnearum, sp?) MA, as some one there should know. 


paul