03/08/2005
QUESTION:
Why do most North american sailing catamarans have there helms on the starboard side, when international rules of the road(water) state all vessels pass port to port.
ANSWER:
I'm no expert on sailboats, but I would guess that boat designers don't consider a sailboat anything at all like an automobile. One would not pass another boat as closely as automobiles pass each other.
The only two North American sailing cat manufacturers, to my knowledge, are Manta and PDQ. Manta's helm is to port, PDQ's to starboard. From what I remember, most French and South African cats also have the helm on the starboard side. I don't know why that is, but I don't think it makes that much difference. The helms on monohulls are centerline, neither port nor starboard.
Fair winds,
Jeanne
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