How to Trapeze on a Catamaran

A catamaran is designed to sail fast. Sailing into the wind and off the breeze frequently requires the use of a trapeze harness. The trapeze apparatus is designed to move the crew weight outboard of the hulls, in order to gain greater leverage against the blowing wind.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A catamaran
• Flotation device
• Trapeze harness
• Catamaran rigging to enable trapezing

1. Prior to leaving the foreshore, ensure rigging for trapeze is tight. Lower the trapeze wire point of attachment on both sides of the catamaran so that it is almost touching the deck of the hull.
2. Prior to leaving the foreshore, suit up the trapeze harness on, as the outermost garment. While standing beside the catamaran, perform a "dry run" of hooking onto the trapeze wire. This will ensure the wire is not tangled or snag. Perform this on both sides of the catamaran.
3. After launching and setting the sails on the desired course, move to the edge of the windward hull and hook onto the trapeze wire. The wire may now loose it's tension depending on your seating position. If required, move slightly aft on the hull to tack in the slack and prevent the wire from releasing off the trapeze harness.
4. Pull your forward most leg up under your torso into a one leg squat position.
5. Push off the hull with the forward most leg. This action will propel the torso outside the line of the boat. The trapeze wire will take the weight of the crew and exert force to pull the catamaran windward.
6. Optimal windward trapezing position. Place the rearmost most on the side of the hull to steady your position. Spread your legs shoulder width apart to obtain the optimal balance. This will place the crew in a position standing off the side of the catamaran, almost parallel with the center transom.
7. Counterbalance the catamarans heel to the shift in load by trimming the sails. As speed increases, shift the crew aft. In heavy seas this will raise the crews center of gravity. It is possible that as the crew continue to move aft, their torso will change into a more "angled" or "seated" position. On adjustable trapeze' s, lower the trapeze wire accordingly.
8. A cartwheeling catamaran. When trapezing the crews center of gravity is outside the beam of the catamaran. This may lead to a capsize situation when the catamaran runs into an obstacle, such as a slower moving wave. The crew will be propelled forward on the trapeze wire, and will effectively "cartwheel" the catamaran into a capsize.
9. When changing tacks, the procedure is reversed for reboarding the catamaran. Most trapeze wires will self-release as the crew cross the center line of the catamaran. It may require the crew to manually unhook in heavy winds or choppy seas.

Tips & Warnings

• First time trapezer's should venture onto the water in tandem with a more experienced skipper.
• The risk of cart wheeling while trapezing increases the strong the wind blows and the faster the catamaran is moving. Injuries are caused by the crew being flung forward into the rigging and wires.