From: "Robert Fitzgerald" <rfitzge1@tampabay.rr.com> Subject: [PCW] Maryland 37 fly bridge & Tortola Lagoon Experience > Bareboated the "Andren" from Cat Co out of Tortola and had a fantastic & memorable trip. On the way from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke we had an exciting ride with quartering winds to 25 kts and seas 4 to 6'. I was getting blowback so went downstairs and was amazed that Judy was reading a book like she was on the beach in a chair! The stability of that vessel in those seas was simply astounding. Driving that boat from the lower station was like getting into a sports car after driving a SUV...very comfortable - and comforting going through that little rage. _____________________________________ Brian replied: I believe that was a downwind ride with winds on the rear quarter? You spent 10 days on this vessel, correct? Did you do much upwind stuff? I reference an observation made back in March on this forum; ________________ "When a catamaran is in motion and when a wave of any type enters between the sponsons the wave typically becomes trapped, broken up into smaller water particles and the new air/water particle mixture becomes compressed as it travels toward and egresses the aft end. The mixture accounts for the very comfortable ride a catamaran displays in rougher seas since the mixture and hulls act together like a giant shock absorber. However, depending upon hull design, sea state and speed of the vessel, this air/water particle mixture can develope a counter pressure high enough so part of the mixture may not egress aft. A part of the air/water mixture can be pushed forward and escapes by coming over the bow. Hence the so called "sneezing" phenomenon. The size of a sneeze can be anything from a light mist to a heavy raindrop downpour and often is a combination of both. The Lagoon 43 sneezed a lot on that particular trial day. In the 18 months we have been aboard our Aventure 460 and having cruised over 7800 miles, we have "sneezed" only one single time! One single sneeze! The sneeze had the audacity to came up to our flybridge. Our hardtop flybridge is enclosed on three sides with 7 and 9 mm CE certified safety glass and no one got wet. This was in a head sea with about 5' waves." __________________ Brian ask: Did you experience any 'sneezing' on the Lagoon vessel?. Do you experience any sneezing on your Maryland 37??