(Extract from a letter from a new member living in Charleston, South Carolina)

I can understand curiosity at the thought of cruising in a small open catamaran. I have no cabin. Instead, one camps from it, and on it, using lightweight backpack camping gear. The gear is stowed in waterproof bags of special construction. The bags are secured to the trampoline of the catamaran using shock cord. The bags do not become dislodged even during a pitch pole or capsize - should they become dislodged then they float with great buoyancy until retrieved.

The catamaran features a reefable mainsail and sails well under main alone without jib when sea and wind conditions dictate. I am considering adding another line of reefing points and installing a roller furling jib since I have no foredeck to facilitate handling the jib.

The catamaran has asymmetrical hulls and no centreboards or dagger boards. This feature, coupled with kickup rudders, makes it child's play to enter and exit beach areas even in high wind and surf conditions. This makes the boat compatible with my area of cruising interest, which consists of the sea islands along the Carolina coast.

I have given much thought to purchase of a Wayfarer or similar monohull type for the main reason that it would be a dry boat by comparison with my catamaran. However I am loath to make a decision to change boats since I am able to cover substantial distances in shorter periods of time with the catamaran and also its superior performance in surf conditions provides safety.

NOTE:

The Voyageur Waterproof Bags mentioned by Ray Manning are available in the U.S.A., and sound an interesting and useful idea. There is an inner polyethylene bag, and an outer woven bag of double-coated polypropylene, and they can be sealed completely with a tubular clamp. Sizes are 22" x 36" and 17" x 40". The prices are given in dollars - about £3 for a set of 2 bags and clamp. They are intended for use in canoes and in kayak camping, and are completely waterproof, will float, are tough, and can be easily mended, according to the advertisement from Moor & Mountain Lightweight Camping Equipment of Concord, Massachusetts.