Operating A Catamaran Under Sail & Power
with Lisa & Andy Batchelor | Kinetic Sailing
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.
90 Minutes
English
Unlimited Access
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.
American Sailing Members - Save $20
NOT A MEMBER? JOIN OR RENEW TODAY
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 Instructors
LISA & ANDY BATCHELOR
Captains Andy Batchelor and Lisa Batchelor Frailey are both life-long 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 which have proved 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 and Catamaran Cruising, and are the primary contributors to ASA’s Advanced Cruising and Seamanship text.
