Learn the essentials of sailing and operating a cruising catamaran safely and effectively, whether you plan to buy, charter, or simply want to understand the differences from monohulls.
Catamarans comprise a large and growing percentage of the cruising and chartering market. In this online class, Lisa & Andy Batchelor, writers of American Sailing’s Cruising Catamarans Made Easy textbook, will explain how to sail a cruising catamaran and maneuver it while under power. Make the most of your multihull experience by learning how to operate a catamaran safely and effectively.
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ONLINE Class OVERVIEW
Discover how a catamaran’s structural features affect its stability, speed and maneuverability. Lisa and Andy will cover basic sail plans, sail controls, and techniques for effective performance on all points of sail, tacking and jibing as well as Man Overboard recovery. You’ll learn how to maneuver a twin-engine catamaran under power, including techniques for mooring, anchoring, docking alongside and docking in a slip.
Who is this online class for?
This online class is suitable for all levels of sailors who’d like to explore the basics and the finer points of operating a cruising catamaran, and wish to learn the techniques for sailing, motoring and docking.
What Will I Learn?
Discover how a catamaran’s structural features affect its stability, speed and maneuverability. Lisa and Andy will cover basic sail plans, sail controls, and techniques for effective performance on all points of sail, tacking and jibing, and Man Overboard recovery. You’ll learn how to maneuver a twin-engine catamaran under power, including techniques for mooring, anchoring, docking alongside and docking in a slip.
List of Topics:
- Stability features
- Helm position pros and cons
- Catamaran rigs
- Sail options – mainsail, jib/genoa, screechers and spinnakers
- Sail and rigging controls
- Reefing techniques
- Upwind, Reaching and Downwind trim and techniques
- Maneuvering under Power
- Motoring at cruising speed
- Close quarters maneuvering
- Mooring, anchoring and Mediterranean mooring
- Docking alongside and in a slip
learn how to maneuver a catamaran
UNDERSTANDING THE POWER AND POTENTIAL OF MULTIHULLS
Catamarans offer stability, speed, and living space that attract a growing number of sailors to cruising and chartering. This online class explains how their unique design influences sailing performance, maneuverability, and onboard decision-making in real-world conditions.
MASTERING HANDLING UNDER SAIL AND POWER
From sail trim and reefing strategies to close-quarters maneuvering with twin engines, you will learn practical techniques that improve safety and confidence when operating a cruising catamaran. The online class covers everything from docking and anchoring to effective sail plans across varying wind conditions.
BUILDING MULTIHULL CONFIDENCE FOR FUTURE ADVENTURES
Whether preparing to charter, purchase, or simply expand your sailing skill set, understanding how catamarans behave transforms uncertainty into capability. You will leave with a clearer understanding of multihull systems, performance expectations, and the seamanship skills needed to make the most of every voyage.
YOUR HOSTS
CAPTAINS LISA & ANDY BATCHELOR
Sail Solomons ASA School & Charter Base, Founders
Captains Andy Batchelor and Lisa Batchelor Frailey are both lifelong sailors and retired military officers. Andy served in the Royal Air Force in aviation and intelligence, and Lisa served in the US Navy in aviation, meteorology and oceanography – a combination of skills that have proven very useful to sailing and passagemaking. They founded and operated Sail Solomons ASA school and charter base, receiving numerous awards for ASA Outstanding School and Outstanding Instructors.
Andy and Lisa wrote ASA’s textbooks for Bareboat Cruising, Catamaran Cruising, and Dinghies and Outboard and are the primary contributors to ASA’s Advanced Cruising and Seamanship text. Their most recent book, Docking & Maneuvering Made Easy, is American Sailing’s new textbook for the ASA 118 Docking Endorsement. Lisa also regularly teaches the ASA 119, Marine Weather Endorsement.
Cruising for seven years onboard their Passport 47 ZINGARO and Outbound 46 KINETIC, Andy and Lisa have made numerous coastal passages and ocean voyages, conducting cruising and passagemaking training while living aboard in exotic locations. They also organize and lead sailing flotillas on cruising catamarans and monohulls in the Caribbean. Andy and Lisa are regular speakers at Cruisers’ University and present many live and virtual seminars.
Andy and Lisa launched Kinetic Sailing to offer marine consulting, charter brokerage, instructional yacht deliveries and tailored instruction with a global scope. They are USCG Captains, cruisers, instructors, analysts and business owners with a wealth of experience in the sailing industry.
ONLINE CLASS REGISTRATION
Thursday, May 28th
@ 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET (2 x 90 min)
Regular Price
$79
ASA Member Price
$59
ON-DEMAND ACCESS
All registrations include unlimited on-demand access to the recordings of the live online class. So if you are unable to attend live you can still register and watch at your leisure.
ASA MEMBER DISCOUNT
American Sailing Members can claim their discount in the Member Portal. If you're not a current member, then for only $59/year you can join or renew today!
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