I was watching a couple of 38' plus cats sailing in Sydney harbor and realized I have never sailed a large cat and thought it would be fun to have ago! So one of my aims for this years boat show was to try and score a ride on one, bombed out badly with Seawind, had great success with lagoon but I bailed out once the dealer started talking test sails and I thought I was getting in to deep. I had a look at hiring a cat in the Whitsundays but it was a bit pricey and would have to wait until late next year.

I was wondering if any CAT owners in Sydney area needed a crew man for a day and would like to resolve my Curiosity?

HG02 said..
Its a pity you cant find a few people to charter in the Whitsunday's keeping the cost down. I chartered one a couple of years ago took my kid up there I think it was
a 5 days you paid for and two for free.
You could always ask a charter company if the had a cat not beeing use for a couple of days to let you know might get a good discount.

I did some more research and it looks like New Caledonia will be our next holiday, cost and travel seems to be slightly better and they are hiring out the lagoons.

DrRog said..
I'd like to try that too - also in Sydney. Mates dad bought a brand new top of range cat but sold it and changed to a mono within 6 months - before I could get onboard. Changed because it wasn't 'real sailing'. But I'd like to see for myself. You know, for one day, when I'm rich and can make really expensive bad decisions. Please, no boring cat / mono debates.

Yeah must be someone out there who a crew for the day?

A few years ago we chartered a 38 foot cat and I can understand the comment that it was not "real" sailing. For me the lack of heel meant that the I felt disconnected from the boat, particularly when on a work. it was much harder to sense what the wind was doing and to steer the boat accordingly. On the helm you are kind of along for the ride. My own boat (monohull) is no race boat and no doubt a dinghy sailer would feel the same about mine.

One the other hand, the speed when reaching was great, space and views at anchor much better that a monohull. We had non sailers on board and they were much happier than they would have been on a monohull.

LMY said...
... the lack of heel meant that the I felt disconnected from the boat, particularly when on a work. it was much harder to sense what the wind was doing and to steer the boat accordingly.

That makes a lot of sense, LMY.

We had non sailers on board and they were much happier...

And I can definitely see that! Fear my wife may be one of those in future years.

Donk107 said..
This is a blog by a young American couple who bought a virtually new 35 foot cat and with a little preparation and allmost no sailing experience sailed (motored a lot) around the world alone including visiting a lot of places that they were warned not to go to
http://www.bumfuzzle.com/blog/2003/09/01/septemberoctober-2003/
l fish though...
They had some drama's along the way with some fairly major build problems with the boat but it is a interesting read if you have the time to read it all month by month

Some years after they bought a mono motor sailer and it is interesting to read their views on cat vrs mono

Regards Don

looks beautiful nice route to take...wish he didnt kill small fish though and feed iguanas crackers.