Just started sailing recently but I'm finding that the Stratos and Bahia's I've been sailing seem to flare up a knee problem I gained skiing last November. It's the back of the knee and seems to be aggrevated by the crouching/standing and moving from side to side of the boat.

Ultimately I wan't to get into multihulls but as yet I've not sailed one. It looks from the outside that with a multi it's more of a crawl on the tramp to get yourself around the boat than a sit/stand/sit movement. Would this be a fair assumption?

If its the bending of the knees that is the problem, then trapeezing is probably the answer.

The good thing with the cats is, if it is a quiet carm day, then you can spread out and lie on the tramp/hull.

...I agree with radixon, Trapeezing will be perfect... GET A 600

Mark.

I have a similar problem with my knee, which hurts quite a bit when crouching/squatting etc. to straightening up. Physio recommended to make sure you stretch out quads, hams and calfs in the morning each day, before hitting the water, and also at night. Also to do low impact sport like cycling. I have also ditched the car to work and now walk, and that has helped a lot as it stops the muscles tightening up, though stop for a few days and am back to square one.

Thats just my experience

I would've thought trapezeing would aggrieve it more, but then again you don’t have you full weight on your knees when you are trapezeing.  Also, if you are new to sailing, who is helming?  You really don’t want someone new to sailing as well, when you start out on the trap.  I agree with JimC, best to sort the problem in hand, if not try different boats and see which is best.

Booked a physio appointment so we shall see what they see.

Most of the boats on my shortlist seem to have a single trapeze so as the helm I probably won't get out on the wire much anyway - apart from when I'm soloing.

Thanks all.

With hard hat donned

Dart 18, Hobie 16, Laser Vago, RS 500

Probably in that order.

How experianced is your crew?

Also, I thought the Hobie 16 had a twin trap.

My crew (the GF) is as inexperienced as me! We're both very new to all this.

Yes the hobie does have a twin trap, and a kite. All the things that at the moment make me a bit nervous!

Still, how hard can it be!

Seriously though, we are planning to do a cat converson course with Windsport in Falmouth as they have both the Dart 18 and Hobie 16 available to try so I'll know more after that. Locally I have access to a Dart 16 and 16X so I'll also consider them but I already know about the common views on plastic fantastics.

Should add that I need to also be able sail solo too as the crew (I'm sure she love me calling her that) works Saturdays. Also I'm not looking to have to sell my soul to afford it either. It will be my first boat.

I would say have a go on a catermaran before even doing the course. There is nothing worse than paying to be taught something when you can only do a day of it due to a reoccuring injury.

Best bet is to try everything first.

If you can get up to Datchet (West London) they are having a "try a boat" day where all the manufacturers are bringing boats along for people to try.I think there are going to be Cats there too.

When is that? Is it the 'on the water show'?

Mmm. It would be good. I've enjoyed these sort of things with ski manufacturers but I'm not sure I have the confidence yet to be in a lake with all them other boats without making a right pratt of myself.

How busy does it get?

I should be there with the Dart 18 on the Sunday.  However, that will only happen if I get back from working overseas on time!

The event is normally pretty good.  How busy? - well depends on the weather, sunshine brough lots of people last year.  Get yourself down, I'm sure there will be lots of different boats to try. Don't worry about experience or making a prat of yourself, the whole idea of the day is to invite newcomers and your likely to be on board with someone more experienced.

On the knees issue, I would say that I spend alot of time of my knees / backside on the Dart.  Not a major problem as the tramp is soft and gives.  However, its slightly abrasive on the skin in the summer, so you get dodgy friction burns on your knees in the summer!

I have very fecked knees from a few ski inceidents and find that Hiking is worse than Wiring.  SAiling my Hurricane used to make my knees ache but the mainsheet loads were fairly high.  and the 59 was a "grunty" boat; Don;t get knee ache on the F16. 

I wear knee supports when skiing but don't bother when sailing as you do not get the same shock loads. 

Talking about hiking position, did you meet the student doing some research with his hiking bench at the Dinghy Show in March?
We had to give the bench a try and fill in a questionaire. I don't know what is the outcome of his study, but his hiking bench was far too comfortable for Laser sailors (Or Toppers, for that matter!).

Anyone knows? Is he a forum member? 

I wonder if, as Ellistine is relatively new to sailing, the problem with his knees could be that he is still "feeling the boat" and tensing his knees more than he would if he were an "old hand".

Either way a cat is easier on the knees and you have to sit with legs relatively straight on a D18 so that you can cleat the traveller with your back foot.

Interestingly, just had an evening in a Pico and it wasn't really a problem, presumably because you never really get of your knees/arse. I deffinatetly think it's the sit - stand - manouver - sit that causes me the problems in boats like the Bahia and Stratos.

If you're up to it you could crew a Laser 4000.  Its very much a standing up sort of boat.  You stand whilst you tack and gybe although you see the tentative try and kneel but it doesn't work.  The boom is high so when tacking you come in into a standing position duck under the high boom and walk out onto the rack and out on the wire.

Here's a couple of photos in strong and light winds.