If you want to get back at the "'oh, a catamaran, is it a Hobie?" people all you have to do is ask about their boat (monohull) and after they get all fired up about it ask them if you can take a look at their boat. By this time none will refuse this. Than you take an admiring look at their craft while you see their chest increase size and their noses slowly reach for the sky. Then after a throrough examination of their boat you say in a mildly curious but lost manner "where is the other halve?" and look at them. Most will reply :"what other halve" and that will be your cue to answer back : "I see only one hull, where is the other one ?"

And now comes the true test. Real sailor worth your attention will be bewildered but break into a smile or laugh; These are the good folk, nothing wrong with them given a little 1-2 hulls rivalry. But then the other kind, the ones will become dismayed or even angry, these are the dangerious bunch. These will be the persons that will try to keep you out of beachings area's, Yachting clubs or try to take away yours clubs beach permit because the claim to the local county that sailing catamarans is unsafe especially considering the thugs sailing these kind of boats. Ignore these folk and walk away

I have yet to encounter a person that was not accurately identified by this test.

With respect to coloured sails. Often white sails have a higher resin content and are stiffer retain a better shape while sailing. White dacron is also the cheapest. With the advent of mylar and pentex the colouration of the sail was more difficult although it is doen (nacra for example). My pentex main pretty much come in two colours : greyish white or dark greyish "smoke"

Mind you yard and sailmakers can be more creative with sail than they are now. A coloured leanding edge or leech is done easily enough because these are often dacraon reinforcements anyway. Also batten pockets are a good and cheap place to get creative.

For the record :

I sail both cats (P16, P18 and F16) as well as monohulls (laser 4000 and sometimes 49-er; did alot of open boat sailing in my past). Each design has its own pro and cons.

Wouter