Next message: lancs_2000: "[world-cruising] (WAS - Re: Heavy weather sailing in multihulls.) Prout rig question"
I attend Strictly Sail Pacific and met the author and attended his lectures. From his book Cruising in Catamarans Charles E. Kanter Cruising in Catamarans 2002
Literature is spare dealing with survival situations in multihulls. The basic reason for this lack of literature is the astonishing safety record compiled by ordinary sailors in off-the-shelf catamarans. For instance, at the time of the famous Fastnet disaster, of which volumes have been written, there were two Prout catamarans in the vicinity. They were shadowing their fleet as unofficial entries. The racing fleet sailed into a serious storm. The carnage caused by the storm was so great that a Committee On Safety From Capsizing was formed. It consisted of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, (SNAME) and others. The purpose of this committee was to design a minimum stability formula for ocean racing monohull yachts. The weather that was disaster to the Fastnet fleet was considered merely “beastly weather for sailing” by the two adjacent catamarans.
Then there is the Tragic “ Queens Birthday” typhoon off New Zealand in which there was loss of life and property. The two catamarans that were part of the fleet caught in the storm, showed that even with aging and somewhat handicapped short crew, the vessel provided predictable and adequate safety. There are numerous stories of people simply furling all sails, lashing the helm amidships and going below to wait out the storm whilst their catamaran simply bobbed around looking after herself.
I will add that there was some discussion about all new catamarans having escape hatches in the hulls for the berths. These could be viewed as increased safety for, a second exit for fire or more likely with there placement for capsizing. They may prove to be a weakness in the hull and a place for water to come in.
Two catamarans that I personally know of have demasted on San Francisco Bay. Both did it two times and with new riggs, when I asked why I was told it is as much art as science.
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