the horse's mouth

Tongue Twister Tuesday.

Martin Mull fasted on his multi masted multi hull.

Wednesday Wipeout. [Video]

Ouch!

Wednesday Wipeout. [Nacra F18 Video]

Surfing Ala Wai. [Video]

The traditional method of surfing.
Leah Dawson hangs ten.



I love catamarans.
Surfing a sailboat can be tricky, really tricky. Do you remember this incident?

I know, let's try sailing out through the surf!

Links: Kaleo.org | Conjuminando | Maui Surf Report | Sailing Anarchy

Technorati Tags: surfing, sailing, sailing through the surf, ouch!, oops

Sailing Photo Of The Day. Paper Tiger Cat.

Peter Robbins sailing PT 888.

The Paper Tiger Catamaran is an exciting 4.3m (14ft) single-handed catamaran that provides competitive one-design racing for beginners through to champions. The class rules ensure tight control over the major dimensions of the boat which guarantees exceptional racing, yet they provide the freedom to experiment with gear and equipment for the boat.

Background from Wikipedia:
In 1967 when Ron Given was discussing with friends how he planned to design a father and son training catamaran which he proposed to build on a simple mould by sticking plywood together with fibreglass tape, his friends began to comment that he may as well use sticky paper. Eventually, the word 'paper' and also the description of 'paper boat' kept coming to mind during talks about the new boat. As a result, 'paper' soon became part of the name, followed by 'tiger' because the tiger is an active member of the cat family. By the end of 1967 five Paper Tigers were built and one made its debut at Cat Week during January 1968 at Brown's Bay, New Zealand. By the end of 1968 the New Zealand Paper Tiger Catamaran Owner's Association had been formed.

Class Information:

• The 14 foot, one design hulls can be professionally or amateur built from fibreglass with foam sandwich or marine ply with both methods providing a long competitive boat life.

• A minimum hull weight of 50kg ensures that the Tiger can be easily handled by teenagers, adults and veteran sailors.

• The Paper Tiger points high into the wind, has an exhilarating acceleration, runs well downwind and above all is deslightfully responsive. These attributres thrill the pleasure sailor and racing skippers.

Specifications:
The basic specifications for the Paper Tiger Catamaran are set out below. For more detailed information, please refer to the Class Rules.

• Length Overall  4.26 m [14 ft]

• Beam (width)  2.13 m [7 ft]

• Sail Area  9.29 m2 [100 sq ft]

• Mast Length 6.78 m [22 ft 3 in]

• Weight (unrigged) 50 kg [110 lb]

• Weight Rigged 73 kg [160 lb]

Do you want one? Buy the plans and build one.

Links:
Paper Tiger Catamaran International Association | Paper Tiger New Zealand | Australian Paper Tiger Catamaran Association | NSW Paper Tiger | Victorian Paper Tiger | SA Paper Tiger |

Technorati Tags: paper tiger catamaran, cat sailing, catamaran sailing, sailing, sailing photo of the day

Multihull Monday. ..... Another Monday Theme!

I found a very large cat while looking for some wind.
Nelson's in Alameda.

FotoJoe

Technorati Tags: multihull, catamaran, boat yard

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Oops! Have a better weekend than this guy.
Via Wet Ass (The Twitter version).

note: Unlike most Twitter users, Tim is not a twit.

Technorati Tags: oops, sailing

Boat Of The Day, Quack! Quackamaran.

The Ducky, an inflatable catamaran from the Ukraine.

Technorati Tags: ducky inflatable catamaran, beach cats, cat sailing, catamarans, sailing

Jake, Here's One For You. Oops!

Jake, of Team Seacats, brought to my attention that the previous post, "Wednesday Wipeout," was in fact not a wipeout since the boat pictured recovered and did not picthpole. That's what happens when you have a sloppy staff writer who would rather watch wahines at the beach than do thorough research. (note: there is only one staff writer at "The Horse's Mouth.....Oops.) So in my zeal to protect the public interest I present to you the photo above. I would say that it qualifies as a wipeout. I apologize and ask for your forgiveness for my mistake. Now pour me a double shot of tequila and let's get back to the movie.

Technorati Tags: oops, sailing wipeout, sailing, cat sailing, wipeout

Wednesday Wipeout.

How not to sail a catamaran.
Pitchpole = Not Good.

Technorati Tags: wednesday wipeout, catamaran pitchpoles, catamaran sailing, sailing, oops,

Fun On Friday.

Are you having fun?
You would be if you sailed a cat.

Technorati Tags: catamaran sailing, cat sailing, multi-hull sailing, sailing

Sailing Photo Of The Day.

Look Mr. Tillerman, even Oracle likes training wheels.
Big version here.

Via Jaunpa Cadario.

Technorati Tags: team bmw oracle, americas cup, sailing

Speaking Of Boats In Bags.

Check out the Happy Cat by Grabner.
They make top of the line inflatable kayaks.



There's also the Smartkat.
Pretty slick.

Technorati Tags: boats in bags, inflatable boats, inflatable catamarans, catamarans, beach cats, sailing

Sweet Thing.

The Unicorn Cat in action.
Dog you can build this puppy at home.

Here are her specs:

• Single handed 'A' class cat


• Trapeze and una rig


• PY of 775, ISAF 1.086


• Length 5.49m (18ft)


• Beam 2.29m (7ft 6in)


• Sail Area 13sqm


• Mast Height 7.93m (26ft)


• Latest Sail No 1098


• Portsmouth Yardstick of 775 compares with a
  Tornado at 693 and a Hurricane 5.9 at 691 and a
  Shadow with a provisional 732


• ISAF rating of 1.086 compares with a Tornado
  at 1.004, a Hurricane 5.9 at 1.009 and a Shadow
  at 1.069


• Superb boat in light winds with high performance
  up to F6 due to the flexibility of the rig settings


• Daggerboards for high efficiency and superb
  pointing


• Flexible mast with loose footed main. Adjustments
  to outhaul, downhaul, kicker and lower shrouds.
  With a full cut sail this gives terrific scope for control
  of sail shape


• Trapeze for the ultimate sailing challenge


• Una rig for simplicity of sail handling
  (13 sqm sail area to A class specification)


• Plans available for the skilled home builder from
  the RYA.

Technorati Tags: beach cats, boats you can build, catamarans, catamaran sailing, multi-hull sailing, sailing

Speaking About X 40 Cats, See Them In Action.

The America's Cup should be exciting with these bad boys sailing the waters off of Valencia.

Technorati Tags: x 40 catamaran, catamarans, multi-hull sailing, sailing, sailing video

Big Bad Blue Cat!

Team Blue's X40 cat looks sweet as she glides across the
water.
Read more about Team Blue at the Blue Project.

Technorati Tags: the blue project, x40 catamaran, catamarans, multi-hull sailing, sailing

Oracle's Cat Attack.

Multi-hull baby, that would be a Cat Mac!
Pobresito Tillerman, it ain't your Grand Dad's Laser.

Via Valencia Sailing.

Technorati Tags: americas cup, team oracle sailing, multi-hull sailing, catamaran sailing

Powered by ScribeFire.

A Blast From The Past.

The Hobie Monocat.
I almost bought one a couple of years ago. She's fast, fun and stable.

Hobie in it's infinite wisdom replaced her with the god awful rotomolded
(made from recycled Clorox bottles) Bravo.

note: (These are the same guys who stopped production
of the 14 in North America.)

Tags: sailing, hobie monocat, hobie cat, catamaran sailing, catamarans, multihulls

Powered by Qumana

No One Is Picking Up My Call From The Darkside.

No Lasers to be found. What's a guy to do? Look at scows?



I found an Melges 16 up at Clear Lake on Craigslist.
It looked promising at $700, so I threw a line in the water at SA and came back
with a definite don't buy from a scow guy who said the boat was an old warhorse
from the sixties that should be put out to pasture.
He pointed me toward an MC up in Sac-town.



Isn't it a big Laser that needs a few more blokes to carry it to the water?



I'm starting to think Hobie.
Puffy, she is one of those multi-hull watchamacallits that loves the beach.
I found an '82 Hobie 14 on Craigslist that has no soft spots, new running
and standing rigging for the same price as the Melges.

Should I take the plunge or wait on the beach for a
Laser to wash ashore?

Tags: laser sailing, dinghy sailing, hobie cats, hobie 14, M 16 Scow, MC Scow, beach cats, catamaran sailing, multi-hull sailing, sailing

Powered by Qumana

"Friends Don't Let Friends Sail Multihulls"

Edward, A Horse Is A Horse, Of Course, Of Course,..How About A Unicorn?
Sorry Steph, saying no to multi-hulls is verboten here at "The Horse's Mouth."

Why a Unicorn?
It can be built at home.
No crew problems - "Hey Phil, do you want to go sailing today? No thanks Joe
my wife and I are going up to Wine Country."
Easy to rig and launch single-handed
18ft waterline means good handling in sea conditions
Trailer fully assembled
Very light weight, hulls and cross beams 60kg minimum,
all up sailing weight 108kg minimum
Can be sailed for fun two up
Strict class rules but significant but flexibility in the design of rig and variation in
hull shape and materials

The Specs:
Single handed National 'A' class cat (A Cat baby, A Cat!)
Trapeze and una rig
PY of 775, ISAF 1.09
Length 5.49m (18ft)
Beam 2.29m (7ft 6in)
Sail Area 13sqm
Mast Height 7.93m (26ft)
Superb boat in light winds with high performance up to F6 due to the
flexibility of the rig settings
Daggerboards for high efficiency and superb pointing
Flexible mast with loose footed main. Adjustments to outhaul, downhaul,
kicker and lower shrouds.
With a full cut sail this gives terrific scope for control of sail shape
Trapeze for the ultimate sailing challenge
Una rig for simplicity of sail handling (13 sqm sail area to A class specification)

Edward, a wire does not make a boat complicated. Check out the Wiley Wabbits
that sail out of Berkeley.

Tags: boat building, beach cats, a cats, catamaran sailing, unicorn catamaran, sailing

Powered by Qumana