As you are starting to count down the days for summer, you have to start organizing your vacations and summer adventures, as well. If you are looking to sail the Greek seas, one of the most important decisions you have to make is whether you will be sailing with a Catamaran or a Monohull yacht. Here, we will have a look at some of the key aspects of the two.

COMFORT AND SAFETY

Catamarans are very stable and are naturally buoyant, which means that they do not sink. In the case of a bad accident, they might capsize but unlike a monohull they will not sink. However, monohulls have better self-righting capabilities, meaning that they can return to an upright position, where you would be able to fully access all safety equipment to protect you.  Catamarans are very family-friendly, because the multiple hulls mean that the platform is more stable. Therefore, it is easier to walk around, cook, sit in the foredeck, even when sailing, and it is less likely to cause someone to get seasick. Also, catamarans are generally more spacious and have more rooms, wider living spaces, and more privacy. In monohulls, all the main living spaces, except for the cockpit, are below the waterline, which can be quite unpleasant to people who don’t go sailing often and are not used to it.

SAILING

For most sailing purists, there is no experience that can top sailing a monohull. Monohulls slice through the ocean with no effort and without the slapping that low bridge deck catamarans can create.  Sailing in a catamaran is generally associated with a calmer sailing experience and many people enjoy sailing “flat” more. Sailing with a monohull, there is a lot of heeling action, which for many is the very essence of sailing.  Heeling actually adds an element of safety, as it provides stability and spills wind from the sails. It also means that the throbbing noise of the engine is eliminated.

Generally, cruising catamarans are faster than monohulls and sailing catamarans can travel at approximately half the speed of the wind; however, their lower wetted surface area equals a lot of slapping and a more uncomfortable ride in particularly lively weather conditions. Monohulls are designed in a way that harmoniously works with the elements of nature rather than going against them, making them more efficient when sailing upwind and faster to tack.

MANEUVERING AND DOCKING

Catamarans have twin engines situated approximately 20 feet from each other, thus eliminating the need for a bow thruster, and making them particularly easy to maneuver. Also, their drafts are shallow, which means that you could potentially navigate into parts of the ocean you wouldn’t be able to reach with a monohull and of course, you can anchor closer to the beach.  Mononulls on the other side are more flexible. They can make sharper turns and navigate more efficiently through narrow spaces, because they only have one hull.

It is not particularly challenging to dock a catamaran, but because of its size it might be trickier to find a spot. In the occasion that you do not manage to find a spot, you can always moor the boat and use the dinghy to get to the shore. On the contrary, monohulls are easier to dock and take up significantly less space.

Obviously, the final verdict of this decision depends on your personal preference and what you are looking for in your sailing experience. If you are a sailing purist, a monohull is more likely to be your go-to choice; whereas, if you were looking for a more fun and social sailing experience, a catamaran would be more fitting. Of course, another factor to be considered is the different costs.
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