Hi Bundeenaboy, first let me mention that we sold our Catalina 320 only due to health issues and getting older. Happens to us all I know. Otherwise we would have happily kept her. In answer to your questions, yes we sailed with an MPS and sock which was easy to handle for the two of us. There is a guy racing locally at RMYC Toronto with a 320 and he does well, They ate also raced in the States. We also have friends who sailed one up to mid north coast QLD recently with no problem. Primarily they are great for an occasional twilight race or as a comfortable coastal cruiser but they are not a racer and are advertised as a cruiser/racer. Suits us, not keen on racing now anyway. The things we loved were headroom, great aft sleeping berth with heaps of room (basically a queen size), good refrigeration, huge cockpit with room to sprawl when needed, wide side decks and easy access forward. All lines lead back to the cockpit, electric anchor winch and hot and cold water with shower on deck and below. Also loved the white leather seats below deck and the chardy seats. Easy access to have a swim with a good ladder. They are a great boat to sail on a reach or downwind, but do not point brilliantly upwind. Still not too bad if they have a fin keel as ours did, the wing keels do not point as well. Probably the only cons were the slap on the stern at anchor, ours had a 3 blade fixed prop and she was a bit of a pain to reverse into the marina with this and propwalk, but got used to that. We spent a fair bit on her with new sails, dodger and bimini with link sheet and general upkeep as you do, but when we sold after five years it was at the same price we purchased so would have to say that resale value is ok. Hope this helps but again would have to stress that the 320 although no slug is really not a full on racer but a comfortable cruiser/occasional racer.

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andy59 said...
+1 MB, but the only problem with the s and s 34 is that its a bit small for all the creature comforts so its hard to get my wife excited about coming aboard.

Yep, designed to perform first and live on a distant 2nd. Compromises are necessary. A Hallberg Rassy would be the best but I just can't justify the expenditure.
Not only is Azzurro winning over here, Blondie, a "new" S&S34, is whipping them in the offshore series in WA.
Not perfect for sure but the S&S34 is one of the all time outstanding yachts.

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Bundeenaboy said..
Did you know a completely rebuilt S&S 33 won the Sydney to Gold Coast race this year.

But line honors, it was dead last.

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Jolene said..

Bundeenaboy said..
Did you know a completely rebuilt S&S 33 won the Sydney to Gold Coast race this year.

But line honors, it was dead last.

That's why they have handicaps. First past the post = richest owner.

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MorningBird said..

Jolene said..

Bundeenaboy said..
Did you know a completely rebuilt S&S 33 won the Sydney to Gold Coast race this year.

But line honors, it was dead last.

That's why they have handicaps. First past the post = richest owner.

That's why they have handicaps. First past the post = richest owner.
Been like that since the sixties at least back then it was he buy new sails wins
Now its new boats

To say they win is just using that "ol' Jedi mind trick"

Hi Watermark,
Loved your reply and will answer in depth when I am not pushed for time.
Can I just say the quality of the interior of the Catalina is what you might expect on a Moody.