Page:Small-boat sailing; an explanation of the management of small yachts, half-decked and open sailing-boats of various rigs; sailing on sea and on river; cruising, etc (IA smallboatsailing01knig).pdf/93

 is topped up it will fall into the water when the sail is lowered, and will dip into it when the boat is running before the wind. Mere skimming-dish though the cat-boat is, her excessive beam gives her great stability, and she can be sailed without any ballast; but, as has already been explained, boats of this class, though stiff up to a particular point, capsize as soon as they have heeled over to a certain angle, and must be sailed with greater care in squally weather than the deep-keeled boats.

The Una, so well adapted for shallow waters, so quick in stays and admirably handy when tacking in narrow channels, would be the ideal boat for single-handed sailing were it not for some serious disadvantages. Being so flat-floored she is uncomfortable in rough water, pounding heavily into the seas and straining herself. Moreover, the weight of her mast, situated, as it is, so far forward, tends to drive her bow into the seas and make her a wet boat on a wind; while she is liable to plunge her nose under and go down by the head when running before a strong squall. The great sail and the length of the boom also make the boat roll when running before the wind; she is then apt to steer very wildly, and is more liable to broach to than a boat of any other rig. It needs a skilled helmsman to steer a cat-boat safely when scudding before a squall in rough water, and a jibe at that juncture would, in all probability, capsize her.

It will be observed that most of the above objec