So sail I would!
The sun was out but there was not much wind and the dark clouds were already gathering for April showers in March.
We were recognised from our visit to the Dinghy Show and made very welcome. We were introduced to the new owner of the boat design - John Peperell. (Topper have given up selling the Catapult). The price has gone up a thousand pounds, in this sales change over, which immediately makes you wonder about the future of the Class.
We need to really study this boat and give it a fair appraisal and test.
I change and get down to the boats. Although the loyal owners tell you that you can unpack and rig the a boat in one hour - the people putting boats together seem to be taking rather longer.
This beachcat is a contradiction: on one side it is a very clever design and on the other it looks very strange.
The hulls inflate, the sail plan is a single main sail with a wishbone boom. Unlike almost all other catamarans the catapult does not have a traveller. So the usual rules of setting the telltales won't work. The aluminium mast is held in place laterally by a continuos rope passing through two sets of pulleys - this allows you to adjust the angle of the mast whilst afloat.
The daggerboards and launching wheels both fit through the deck into a slot fitted with sliding bolts to hold them once aligned in place. The boat is so light (81 kg) that you can lift the boat onto its wheels with the small handle fixed to the longitudinal beam top beam.
I am to go out with the boats owner Cliff Antill. A winner of many Catapult Opens.
We take it to the water and I brace myself for the cold water ... I have forgotten my dry socks. The boat floats high and we take out the wheels and both get on. We move off slowly drop the rudders down and put in the daggerboards. We are sailing on a large reservoir, we talk and he helms us to the far end. The boat goes well but you wonder how much slower it is with two adults on rather than the single helm of racing trim.
Then its my turn - we are to beat up the full length of the water. I get it going well and the wind dies. We tack slowly and set of again, the wind now goes and comes in a very irritating way - just as we pick up some speed it slows again.
The Cliff goes out and stands on the nose to show how difficult it is to upset the boat.
We make slow progress but I have to ask ... "We are going to tip it in to demonstrate the unique righting system aren't we?" He agrees that we are going in as agreed - he is wearing a dry suit.
Although I am in a wet suit and really don't want to get cold and wet I feel it is my duty to you readers to suffer. We both go to the lee hull and lean out. Over she goes, I go right under and a river of freezing water rushes down my back as my head pops up above the surface again.
The mast is rapidly canted over using the unique shroud pulley system, the tramp is soon leaning away from us and the Cliff simply walks up it and up she comes. I cheat and hold on as she rights so that I don't need to climb back on board.
I helm us ashore and we carry the boat up the beach. We set it on the stones but I am assured that the hulls are strong and will not be scratched. I am used to putting wheels under catamarans in the water and not let them touch the ground.
It was an interesting sail.
I had come to the test really wanting to like the catapult ... it is so clever with its ease of carriage, its ease of righting when you sail alone miles from any help, it has the built in wheels/daggerboards system, it has just the single sail to set, it has a bracket for an easy acceptance of a 4 hp outboard motor but try as I might I just can't take to it.
As ideal a boat as it is for taking with you by car: being able to motor, able to sail, and no need for a trailer - I just didn't get that high you should get sailing a beachcat.
I do recommend the boat especially if you don't want to tow.
