There is a new craze sweeping across the sailing community, catamarans. Now to many this is nothing new, the history of the catamaran dates back to early Austronesian people and even modern iterations of the catamaran are still over 50 years old. But like bell bottoms and graphic band tees, catamarans have seen a revival in the last few years. The basis of this revival, was the introduction of foiling catamarans. From junior sailing and the Waszp, to the America’s Cup and the AC75, foiling has cemented itself into today’s sailing community. One of the largest forces spearheading the growth of foiling catamarans is SailGP. RS has been a partner of SailGP since 2019, a global sailing circuit featuring the high-flying, foiling F50s. And while the desire to join the foiling catamaran trend may be enticing, for many, foiling catamarans are slightly out of reach, due to availability, cost, lack of training, etc. But, that doesn’t mean that you have to completely miss out completely on the latest sailing fads. With the RS CATS, any sailor can enjoy speed and exhilaration without breaking the bank.
RS offers two distinct CAT models, the RS CAT14 and the RS CAT16. Both boats deliver sparkling performance combined with easy handling and unmatched durability. The RS CAT14 is perfect for newer sailors or small families that want a boat that can take them from beach day to race day and everything in between. The boat’s signature system for joining the beans to the hulls gives increased stiffness compared to other rotomoulded catamarans. Plus, it allows for the added bonus of allowing the boat to be disassembled quickly for storage or transport.
The RS CAT16 brings all of the benefits of the RS CAT14 to a larger scale. With a bigger sail area, the RS CAT16 can fit up to 5 people for any adventure they seek out. Whether sailing with just the main and jib, or taking it up a notch and adding the trapeze and spinnaker, the 16 maintains its performance with any setup configuration. The lift and lock rudder system is simple and secure, making it quick and easy to launch and land on any surface, from the beach to a dock.
Both boats can be fully rigged in almost no time at all. Plus, the ability to separate allows for storage in restricted space, like a garage or shed. Easy assembly and disassembly doesn’t equate to decreased durability. Aside from RS’ signature use of PE3 construction, the RS CAT14 and RS CAT16 have a tough outer skin, thick foam that increases buoyancy and a super-strong transom and rudder fittings. All of these features combine to make the boats virtually maintenance free.
Perhaps most importantly, however, the speed. For families that are looking to feel the rush of a catamaran but don’t want to break the bank, the RS CATS offer the fun of a foiling catamaran with none of the fuss. So grab the whole fam and head out for an exhilarating experience that everyone will enjoy.
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