Sailing the Catapult catamaran: off the water


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 One of  Catapult's great advantages is its ease of handling off the water, making it a true single-hander for racing or cruising, allowing easy catamaran sailing in the UK almost anywhere.

The two beach wheels slide down the centreboard slots. Rigging, the boat is lifted briefly each side to lock these in, and on landing they insert while the boat is floating.

  Stuart, left, at Bassenthwaite demonstrates.

 For cruising, carrying the two small wheels  easily allows landing almost anywhere (and this is also reassuring heading off around the Isle of Sheppey for the September long-distance race)

(Of course there is no need for a beach trailer, nor road trailer, below.)

  With Catapult so light and the maximum hull buoyancy well aft, it is easy to lift most of the boat onto the beach, and the tough inflatable hulls can sit on sand or stones, or a slipway.

The boats will sit comfortably at the edge of the water between races or during a cruising lunch.

Here, right, at Bassenthwaite, they have been lifted, sterns still floating, and landed on the bank.

  (The Bank Holiday event has brought out a display of rigs---three with the newer Roundhead sail, two coloured TI rigs, and a Classic (nearest) set up  for cruising and playing, rigged with the jib.)

   gareth.car

Left: Catapult ready to go, on a small car, the rest of the boat inside.

A small car can drive at full motorway speed and the roof load is below 40kg.

A caravan can be towed, or the boat put up onto a motor-home, so there is no restriction getting to any racing or cruising water.

 

two.on.car

   These pictures helpfully show what you can do if you have two Catapults and one car (left)

Alternatively (below) if you have one Catapult and no car, you can bike to the (nearby) water.

It does nicely highlight how a 5-metre racing boat emerges from a small kit. It also shows the beach wheels well, in the centreboard slots, in an unusual use.

(Click for The Boat index )

  bike.cat