DESIGN. This is a customized racing catamaran, modified from a "coastal cruiser" Harris-27 design. The construction is foam-sandwich fiber glass (two layers of glass sandwiching a layer of airex foam, no plywood). The two main cross members were upgraded to custom extruded aluminum alloy I-beams. There are two dagger boards, and no fixed keel. It is an extremely light craft, drawing only 5 feet with dagger boards down. It is therefore "light as a cork" on the water. It can achieve remarkable speeds, and is quite responsive and also susceptible to wind and tidal current conditions.

DANGERS. This boat is not a tri-maran, and it is not a hobie cat. It behaves quite differently than either of those craft. NEVER LIFT A HULL! Immediately release the main sheet and - especially - maintain a controlled, slow veer into the wind. The commonly held fear of catamarans catapulting (end-over-end) is overstated, in that this is easily avoided by safe sailing practices. If you dip the forward hulls you are courting disaster.

TIDES & CURRENTS. Check the tide tables for the intended sail.

WEATHER. Check the weather for the sail, estimated wind speeds and times of expected changes. Below are some good links to get you started.

NOTES. Check your Notes from the last trip to the boat.

SUPPLIES. Bring any needed tools or supplies for sailing, maintenance, and repair projects.

GEAR. Open both hatches, place covers & locks below. Place all gear in aft starboard compartment.

RUDDERS. Untie tiller lines. Untie rudder lines & carefully manipulate rudder lines to lower both rudders and avoid pinching lines in rudder frame. Re-tie rudder lines along rudder arm with series of half-hitches.

OUTBOARD MOTOR. Get engine key on red dubber line from starboard hull. Open air valve at fuel tank. Tilt engine back on motor mount and turn it to center. Release arm latch and push engine down into water. Connect gasoline line at engine, set gear to neutral, prime the engine by pumping hand pump in gas line 2-3 times. Set choke to 1/2 or less, start engine by pulling starter handle. Adjust choke carefully; allow to run at least 5 minutes before departing.

DAGGER BOARDS. Inside each hull are bouyant foam-sandwich boards which naturally raise out of water. Lower by pulling lines and cleating.

RUNNING BACKSTAYS. Bring backstay running lines and hardware up from starboard hull, place along each hull. Attach rear end of running backstay (with free rope and cleat) to boomvail on stern. Carefully unwrap backstay line from sidestay (undo the bungie cord). Hold backstay line firmly in one hand. Use other hand to release boomvail pin on running backstay, slip through sidestay clasp, and re-lock. Haul in backstay line until loosely in place. Do not tighten yet, leave bungee hooked.

COVERS. If planning to sail and not just motor, uncover the mainsail & winches. Place work-gloves and winch-handle near main halyard.

Prefer two crew to man forward and rear dock lines; forward if only one crew. Release spring line, leave on dock. Release forward and rear dock lines; forward crew pushes hull away from dock and jumps on. Turn tiller AND engine sharply to ensure port-side u-turn in tight space!

Straighten the engine when on course. Raise fenders, stow lines, replace hatch-covers.

Raise the sails in the marina basin, or further out in the Richmond outer channel if not too windy.

The mainsail halyard is also the topping lift (securing the boom when the sail is down). When sailing, keep the running backstay tight on the windward side.

The Jib is the foresail to use most often. The Genoa and Drifter sails are in forward starboard hull. Two foreward halyards are available.

Tillerman should be seated on the windward hull. He calls the maneuver: "Ready about!"

Foresail crew prepares to release the foresail sheet by uncleating and holding it tight, then calls "Ready."

Tillerman calls the maneuver "Helms alee!" then releases the windward running backstay (uncleat, loosen, re-cleat), and pushes the tiller away firmly. Make sure the boat has enough momentum (velocity) to complete the manuever.

Foresail crew WAITS UNTIL the bow is through wind and the foresail begins to luff; THEN releases the sheet (remove from the winch to avoid snagging), and quickly wraps the other sheet around the winch and hauls in opposite side.

When the bow successfully passes through the wind, Tillerman moves to other hull (now windward), and tightens the running backstay. Adjust first the foresail, then the mainsail.

Always return to dock under motor power. While in the channel or marina basin, lower sails and running backstays, stow the lines, lower the fenders, etc. Prepare the dock-lines, must have one crew on forward line. Tillerman handles rear dock-line if no other crew is available.

Motor down the channel neither too fast nor too slow. Must have sufficient speed to maintain maneuverability.

Forward crew jumps onto dock as soon as is safe, quickly wrap lines around dock-cleats to stop the boat. Disconnect the gas line and allow engine to burn the fuel remaining in the line. Disconnect the black "engine key" to kill engine only if needed.

DOCK-LINES. First attach the spring line to the aft hull cleat, then set fore and aft dock lines to allow the bow and stern some movement. Make sure fenders protect hull from dock.

MOTOR. Set gear to neutral, remove gas line, place it under the traveler lines. Raise engine on the mount, lock at the top position.. Turn and tilt engine by grasping handle and turning slightly to right., and lock it with the lever.

DAGGER BOARDS. Uncleat the line inside each hull and feed it into the slot to allow the bouyant board to raise up.

RUDDERS. Raise rudders by reverse of lowering process. Tie tiller lines to mid-aft hull cleats. Untie rudder lines & carefully manipulate to raise rudders and avoid pinching lines in rudder frame. Re-tie rudder lines along rudder arm with series of half-hitches.

COVERS. Put covers back on winches and mainsail. Stow winch handle and gloves below.

GEAR. Place all gear on dock. When all is out, make sure keys are handy, then lock both hulls.

WASH. Rinse down boat hulls and deck to remove salt. Rinse sails only if they got wet.

SUPPLIES. Remember to take home items for any intended projects (tools, sails, line, etc.)

NOTES for NEXT TIME. Write down any notes about needed maintenance/repairs, projects, gas, parts or materials. Make sure you check your the last trip's Notes before each trip!

LOG. Maintain a log of all boat experiences, including sailing, motoring, repairs, incidents.
See the current log.