Recommended Equipment: The multihull endorsement course and examination shall be conducted on a catamaran of at least 34′, with wheel steering, twin engine auxiliary power, and adequate equipment inventory to complete all required certification outcomes.
Prerequisites: The prerequisite for the Catamaran Endorsement is a US Sailing Bareboat Cruising certification. This endorsement may be taught concurrently with any certification from the Bareboat Cruising level or higher.
Certification Requirements: The Catamaran Endorsement requires the successful completion of the following knowledge and skill requirements. These requirements are expected to be performed safely with confident command of the boat with a wind of at least 10 knots.
Practical Skills
Maneuvering Under Power:
- Demonstrate holding position, pivot turn around center and around each hull, starting, stopping and speed control.
- Demonstrate leaving and returning to a dock under power.
- Demonstrate making way and maneuvering upwind and crosswind in forward and reverse. Demonstrate maneuvering with one engine.
Sailing Skills:
- Demonstrate the trim cycle for a catamaran, including the proper use of the traveler and/or boom vang. Demonstrate the use of a barber hauler when
sailing off the wind. - Demonstrate the specialized skills of tacking a catamaran.
- Demonstrate jibing, including proper control of the mainsail.
- Demonstrate shortening sail to depower the boat.
Overboard Rescue:
- Properly demonstrate one of the overboard rescue methods under sail, taking into account the boat’s performance characteristics.
- Properly demonstrate one of the overboard rescue methods under power, taking into account the boat’s performance characteristics.
Anchoring Techniques:
- Demonstrate the proper use of an anchoring bridle, including its deployment, retrieval, and storage.
- Demonstrate the use of two anchors off the bow.
- Pick up and properly secure to a mooring from the bow.
- Pick up and properly secure to a mooring from the stern.
Knowledge
Catamaran Characteristics:
- Describe the features of catamaran design, handling, and sailing performance.
- Describe the advantages and disadvantages of typical catamaran accommodations.
Maneuvering Under Power:
- Understand the maneuvering differences between a single engine boat and a twin engine boat.
- Describe the different arrangements of engine installations and their effects on maneuvering.
- Understand the limitations of visibility from the helm station on various designs. Explain how this affects docking procedures, crew responsibilities, and boat positioning.
- Understand how to use twin engines to steer, pivot, and maneuver the boat in close quarters.
- Understand why maneuvering in reverse, in high winds, while in close quarters may be necessary.
- Understand the techniques needed to land at a dock with one engine inoperative.
- Understand the use of one engine while motor sailing or steaming.
Sailing Skills:
- Explain the effect of apparent wind and how it leads to the need for repeated sail trim adjustments as the boat speed increases.
- Explain the importance of the use of the boom vang and/or traveler to maintain proper mainsail shape.
- Understand the techniques for tacking, including proper steering throughout the maneuver.
- Explain the differences in jibing, including proper control of the mainsail leech.
- Understand the lack of obvious cues for the need to reduce sail as the wind increases, and explain what cues are available.
- Explain various techniques for reducing sail area, including traditional and single line mainsail reefing.
Overboard Rescue:
- Explain vessel performance characteristics and how that affects overboard rescue maneuvers.
- Discuss person-in-water retrieval techniques.
Anchoring and Mooring Techniques:
- Understand the need for an anchor bridle while using a single anchor off the bow.
- Explain the two most common arrangements of anchor bridles.
- Describe the steps required to set two anchors off the bow.
- Explain the advantages and disadvantages of picking up a mooring from the bow versus stern.
- Explain the steps required to pick up a mooring from the bow and the stern.
