A multihull sailboat is just that…a boat with two or more hulls, such as a catamaran or a trimaran. A monohull sailboat has just one hull. The basics of sailing apply for each, although there are some differences:

Tacking -- because of the multihull’s wide beam and lack of weight, tacking may prove to be more challenging in light wind. Because of its light weight, the multihull will slow quickly during tacking and you will need to sheet in the main to help steer the bow around.

Jibing -- Because of the greater speed of a multihull, the main will not react as violently on a jibe as it does on the more sluggish monohull. However, you should tend the main by bringing it to center prior to jibing.

Interior room -- a multihull will generally not allow you as much interior room as the monohull, so if you’re going to be sailing in adverse weather conditions or going for longer sails that require more stowing capacity, a monohull might work better for you.

Stability -- the multihull by design is more stable than the monohull but all boats can potentially capsize. The big difference between the two designs is, if capsized, the monohull is much easier to right. In fact, it is exceedingly difficult to re-right a capsized multihull. However, capsizing is a relatively rare occurrence, and if you take the right precautions -- like staying on shore during bad weather -- this shouldn’t be a concern.

Cruising -- the multihull can be advantageous to those sailors who primarily love to cruise. Because it generally draws less water than a monohull, the multihull has more versatility in exploring new waters. Its larger deck size and additional speed is also perfect for cruising quickly from place to place.