Size of mainsail vs genoa

[freetime]

What makes a catamaran easy to handle in light vs hard winds. And what makes it fast.

Small or big mainsails/genoa?

On fast cruisingcats?

It´s big differences between cats in same size.

[Southern Star]

The current trend in Cats is for a fractional rig with a large, roachy main and a smaller foretriangle. Screechers are often used (typically with a small sprit) to increase performance while reaching, although others prefer flying a spinnaker (either symmetrical or assymetrical).

While the so-called 'prout rig' (masthead cutter rig) is rarely used now, it does have some real-world advantages for a cruising boat, albeit not typically in terms of ultimate performance.

Brad

[imagine2frolic]

I like my cutter rig. Especially going to windward. You can always use a screecher, gennaker, spinnaker for off the wind.....IMHO

[Southern Star]

Agreed, I like my masthead cutter rig as well. It allows for easily deployed heavy air sails and for a more secure rig with a proper backstay. I was just pointing out the current trend in rigs, and these huge flat-top mains, while a b*tch to handle (and virtually useless when reefed), do provide a ton of horsepower in more moderate conditions.

Brad