Written by Lynda Shelley aboard ITIKI, their FP Helia 44 Evolution
For those of you who know Keith and me through our racing experience, you might be surprised that we bought a catamaran (actually, two catamarans, as ITIKI is our second).
Having always raced monohulls and chartered them occasionally, I didn’t know any different. Keith, as you know, has dabbled in catamarans, from early Hobie racing to his more recent experience with Adrenalin Rush Sailing (a Nacra 36 based on Hamilton Island). However, when it comes to big-boat racing, he’s still a “mono-man.”
Modern cruiser racers and cruising monohulls are undoubtedly well-designed, spacious, and wide. We had considered the Hanse 40 among other options. However, everything changed when Keith delivered an FP Lavezzi (a precursor to the Lipari) from Adelaide to Sydney. He returned a changed man, extolling the virtues of a catamaran for liveaboard living. We then chartered a catamaran in the Whitsundays for a few days to experience it firsthand, and I immediately agreed.
So, what’s the big deal? Here are the top 5 reasons why we chose a catamaran for our cruising adventures:
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Space: Yes, modern monohulls are wide and spacious, but unless you’re looking at a deck saloon model, most of that space is inside or “down below.” Our Helia offers a vast amount of space both indoors and outdoors on the same level, with panoramic views. The U-shaped kitchen boasts ample bench space, a large fridge, and a freezer, and is reasonably secure for cooking underway if needed.
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Comfort and Space: We have three bedrooms with queen-sized beds, three bathrooms, and even room for a full-sized 7kg washing machine. We enjoy a good-sized lounge area, an outdoor dining area, and a cocktail deck (now complete with a lawn!). There’s plenty of room for us and our guests, ensuring privacy and comfort. My lower North Shore Sydney apartment, by comparison, only has two bedrooms and one bathroom.
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Increased Range: Our 7.5-meter beam allows for a decent-sized RIB with a good-sized (15hp) motor at the back. Mounted on davits, it’s easy to launch and retrieve. Monohulls often have to tow their (usually smaller) dinghies or lift them on and off the deck at night or while underway. With a good-sized dinghy and motor, we can explore more coastline, cross larger bays, and easily reach towns for provisioning runs, rather than relying on marinas or town quays.
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Enhanced Maneuverability: The 7-meter distance between the two Volvo Penta 50HP engines significantly improves maneuverability. ITIKI can turn on a dime and is easy to reverse, which is crucial in crowded anchorages when med-mooring, and when entering marinas and town quays. It’s like having stern thrusters on both sides.
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Shallow Draft: With a draft of 1.15 meters, ITIKI can access shallow areas that monohulls would have to avoid, allowing us to anchor closer to shore in crowded anchorages and explore those shallow corners.
Of course, there are some downsides to a catamaran:
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Marina Costs: Catamarans generally occupy more lateral space in marinas, leading to higher berthing fees. You can expect to pay 1.5 to 2 times the rate for a monohull, even if you’re placed at the end of a T-arm and not occupying two full berths. However, with all the modern conveniences on board, we tend to avoid marinas whenever possible.
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Upwind Performance: The width and lack of a deep keel can impact upwind sailing performance. We rarely unfurl a sail until the apparent wind angle is 60 degrees and prefer to reach or run. In our 12 months of cruising, I can recall only making three tacks and returning to our starting point! As cruisers, we have the time to wait for the wind to change, and we always have the 2 x 50HP Volvos if we need to go “the wrong way” for a short distance.
As our second season comes to a close, we remain extremely happy with our choice of boat. ITIKI has exceeded our expectations. While everyone is entitled to their own opinion regarding catamarans versus monohulls for cruising, we are converting to the “dark side.” Racing, of course, is a different story!
We look forward to returning to Sydney Harbour soon to shake out a few cobwebs while racing a monohull.