Multihull Fleet
The Mission Bay Yacht Club multihull fleet is a diverse group made up of individuals who share a common interest in catamaran sailing recreationally and for racing. The boats in this fleet include a number of different manufacturer makes, models, and sizes of catamarans including Hobie, Prindle, Nacra, A Class, and Tornado. Catamaran sailors enjoy the excitement, thrill, and performance of these boats on the water while racing, cruising, or day sailing. Early versions include the Hobie 14, which is a light weight fiberglass catamaran, designed by surfboard designer Hobie Alter Senior in the mid 1960’s. With no dagger boards and pop up rudders, this boat could easily be launched and sailed in the ocean surf.
Over the years, catamaran design and innovation have evolved, using new high strength, light weight composite materials which result in higher speed and improved performance at all points of sail. For example, the Nacra Inter 20 class is a lightweight catamaran which includes a mainsail, jib, spinnaker (and snuffing system) which is raced by a two person crew.
The MBYC multihull fleet is an active fleet that also travels to local, regional, and national regattas. The fleet includes past national champion for the Hobie 20, Dave Sparkuhl, and Alter Cup area “J” champions Brandon Wallace and James Gumpel. San Diego’s ideal climate offers year round sailing and the regatta schedule is full from the New Years Day Race to the Thanksgiving Turkey Regatta and December Hot Rum regatta. Each year the fleet sponsors two Cat Fight regatta (one in the spring and one in the fall) which are two days of ocean racing open to all catamarans under 25 feet in length. Other major regattas the fleet participates in included the SCYA Midwinters in February, CYC Spring Small Boat Regatta in March, Lynch Ocean race from Mission Beach to La Jolla Cove and return in June, MBYC One Design Regatta in August, and the CYC Fall Small Boat Regatta in October.
Each year a number of multihull sailors sail from San Pedro to Catalina Island and return. The group trailers the boats to Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, rig, and with favorable winds can make the 20 mile crossing in about 2 hours. Members of the fleet have successfully completed the Newport to Ensenada ocean race on a Nacra Inter 20 finishing in about 21 hours and sailed Newport to San Diego in about 8 hours.
The multihull fleet is an active fleet and participates in the many sailing, racing, and social events that MBYC has to offer and has frequent fleet pot luck dinners and other activities. If anyone is interested in sailing or crewing on a catamaran please notify the multihull fleet captain.
See you on the water and go fly a hull!
If you would like to stay current with Multihull fleet information please subscribe to our Google group.
Link to Multihull Google Group
Fleet Captain: Ian Storer at ian.storer@gmail.com
