SC15 pointing

[AZ_SC15]

Thank you for taking the time to read this. It’s good to know the community is still active!

1000019123.jpeg

1000019109.jpeg

1000019097.jpeg

I’m relatively new to sailing catamarans, and the SC15 is my first cat. I’ve raced about half a dozen times now, and I’m getting frustrated trying to figure out why the other cats seem to point higher and sail faster than I do.

My current setup:

* Supercat 15
* Square-top Sabre mainsail
* Roller-furling jib
* Asymmetrical spinnaker

Here are the things I’ve noticed:

1. Mast rotation

My mast rotates almost 90 degrees even with the traveler centered. Could this be excessive, and could it be affecting my pointing ability or the airflow across the sails?

2. The boat feels heavier

This might sound subjective, but my boat feels noticeably heavier than the other cats when pushing it around on the beach. I know they’re all supposed to weigh around 300 pounds, but the difference is noticeable. My hulls are dry, so I don’t think I have a water intrusion issue.

3. Mast rake

My mast rake is minimal. I’m assuming it’s close to the factory setting of around 5 degrees, but I haven’t verified that measurement.

4. Pointing ability and jib performance

When I try to point higher, the jib is the first sail to start luffing. I bear away slightly to build speed, which works, but then I’m sailing 5–10 degrees lower than the Hobie 16s, and they’re still going faster.

I’m wondering whether my roller-furling jib is the correct size and cut for my square-top main. Could the lack of battens in the jib be hurting its ability to maintain its shape and point higher?

I’m also wondering whether excessive mast rotation could be contributing to the problem, although I’m not sure whether that’s a realistic concern.

5. Boat trim and leeway

I understand the importance of getting the bows down, and I have no problem burying them once I get enough speed to trap out and move forward of the front beam. My wake doesn’t appear to indicate significant sideslip, although I realize that’s not a definitive measure of leeway.

I’ll attach a photo for reference. This was taken after building some speed and attempting to point higher. I realize the jib halyard tension isn’t correct in the photo because I had an equipment failure during the race. However, I was experiencing the same pointing issues before that failure.

At the time, I was trying to sheet in and head up, but my windward mainsail telltales were streaming forward. The jib would then begin to stall, forcing me to bear away to regain speed.

I’d appreciate any thoughts from those familiar with the SC15, particularly anyone who has raced against Hobie 16s.

Am I looking at a sail-shape or jib-size issue, mast rotation, mast rake, or something else entirely? Are there specific setup measurements or tuning adjustments you would recommend checking first?

I’m happy to hear criticism of my technique, too. I’m trying to identify the actual problem rather than simply assume the boat or sails are at fault.

Thanks in advance for any advice!