And further more RQ.....I have sold, commissioned, overseen production of over
100 catamarans, and I can honestly say not one of those owners would go back
to a monohull, which is where most came from. The desirable priorities were:

Level sailing
Shoal draft
True split accommodations
No rocking and rolling at anchor
Better cruising VMG (speed relative to energy expended by the crew)

Fact is cruising cats are very light displacement vessels compared to
monohulls since they are not ballasted. You cant have everything, while upwind
the may give up something, downwind and reaching they blow away monohulls
without the constant threat of broaching and sailing at a constant angle of
heel. Heavy displacement requires bigger rigs, bigger engines, bigger sails,
and bigger crew. Catamarans have enabled wives who would never set foot on a
heeling monohull to enjoy the cruising experience. I would say monohulls are
better suited for daysailing and cats are for cruising.

we bought our first cat (manta "42") in 2001 and sold it last year.  we have a
maine cat P-47 powercat soon to be launched.  after being liveaboards for two
years on a performance monohull we fully agree with pat reischmann's most
recent contribution to this blog.

further, from our own experiences, i'd toss in  few more "desirable
priorities" in favor of the catamaran versus the monohull for cruisers:

"can handle a larger dinghy and far easier to launch/retrive dinghy
don't have to put everything away before upping the anchor
less tired crew after each day's voyaging - easily compensates for the cat's
motion
safety and manuverability of twin engines
added swim/shower platform, foredeck and cockpit living space
and the comfort at anchor is really HUGE"

this past winter, while waiting for our new boat to take shape, we lived in
florida (stuart area) and i day-sailed as much as i could with a neighbor on
his monohull and loved it.  its all about "horses for courses".