> >Mike Maurice wrote: > >I think that a multi-hull is a fine platform for sailing the oceans of the world, so long as it is not allowed to become entangled in such rough conditions that they become life threatening. I am suspicious that such hulls will become dangerously unstable under conditions that a mono hull would not be endangered. In short the mono hull with a vanishing point of stability of say 110 degrees is more likely to stay upright than a multi-hull where the vanishing point is more like 70 degrees. ________________________ Georgs ask: > Hey, Mike, what's the source for that data or is it conjecture? > > I'm on the hunt for news of any power catamaran ever capsizing--and > so far I've come up empty. _____________________________ Brian commented: It's a shame we could not get ahold of that video Derek Kelsall mentioned in his posting, excerpt... "However, imagining lying ahull to those waves did not fit the picture. A couple of clients have described being in a situation where they expected to capsize from the size of the wave and the angle of heel, but then suddenly found the cat was back on its feet again. One of these clients decribed the waves passing while lying ahull and of the most disturbing part being the fall of the windward hull into the trough as the wave passed. The video demonstrated the situation as I understand it. The tank test was done in Southampton comparing a Lock Crowther catamaran ferry with a comparable mono, in large breaking waves and high wind, with the models lying ahull. As the wave hit the cat, which was still in the water, the windward hull was thrown up into the air, looking like an immediate capsize, but before the angle of heel had gone to 30 - 40 degrees, the wave had passed to the lee hull, lifting it just as rapidly to bring the cat level and then fall as the wave passed. The cat never capsized. The mono rolled every time. This situation actually applies whatever the orientation of the catamaran to the waves. Of course, there are situations of confused seas which could produce a very different result and is probably the explanation of a few of the sailing cats going over." Derek also wrote: "There is an area around Bermuda which is noted for confused seas and which has claimed a number of cats and tris." Brian responded: This Bermuda area is right where many of these Gulf stream eddies are found. Just recently (Norwegian Dawn)I was reminded of Phil Weld's experience in these areas: <http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11593&postcount=6> Brian Eiland beiland@usa.net http://www.RunningTideYachts.com distinctive multihull expedition yachts