Blog - Sailing news, tips, and adventures

Explore the latest updates on Excess Catamarans, destination guides, sailing tips, and stories from the cruising community.

Showing 17 articles

September 3, 2026

Is the Excess 13 the Best Balance of Performance and Space for California Cruising?

A deeper practical analysis of why the Excess 13 is often a strong California balance point between sailing feel, onboard usability, and ownership flexibility.

August 20, 2026

Is the Excess 11 Enough for Extended Cruising? Realistic Use Cases

A detailed model-fit analysis explaining when the Excess 11 is a strong choice for extended cruising and where structured tradeoffs matter most.

August 6, 2026

Anchoring for Catamaran Owners in Southern California: A Practical Playbook

A detailed practical anchoring playbook for Southern California catamaran owners, with planning logic, setup discipline, and overnight risk control.

July 16, 2026

7 Common First-Season Catamaran Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

A deeper first-season learning guide that explains the seven most common catamaran ownership mistakes and how to correct them with practical routines.

July 2, 2026

Family Cruising Setup: How to Configure an Excess for Comfort and Simplicity

A detailed family-first setup guide for configuring an Excess catamaran with better onboard flow, lower stress, and routines that hold up over a full season.

June 18, 2026

How to Budget Your First Year of Catamaran Ownership Month by Month

A detailed month-by-month budgeting framework for first-year catamaran ownership, designed to reduce surprises and keep decisions grounded in real operating patterns.

June 4, 2026

Marina Slip Strategy in Southern California for Catamaran Owners

A practical strategy for securing and sequencing marina berthing in Southern California with realistic lead times, fallback options, and ownership planning alignment.

May 21, 2026

Catamaran Docking in Wind: 10 Habits That Build Confidence Fast

A practical, experience-based guide to windy catamaran docking with repeatable habits that reduce stress and improve crew confidence over a full first season.

May 7, 2026

What to Ask During an Excess Sea Trial: A Checklist for First-Time Buyers

A practical sea trial checklist for first-time buyers evaluating an Excess catamaran, including handling questions, systems checks, and post-trial scoring criteria.

April 16, 2026

New vs Pre-Owned Catamaran: A Practical Guide for 2026 Buyers

A practical framework for first-time buyers deciding between new and pre-owned catamarans in 2026, including risk, timeline, financing, and ownership readiness.

April 2, 2026

Catamaran vs Monohull for West Coast Cruising: What Buyers Should Know

A practical decision guide for first-time California buyers comparing catamarans and monohulls for comfort, handling, docking, and coastal cruising plans.

March 18, 2026

Channel Islands Weather Windows for New Catamaran Owners: Planning Without Guesswork

A practical weather-window planning guide for new catamaran owners cruising to the Channel Islands, with forecast workflow, go/no-go criteria, and safety-first route timing.

March 4, 2026

Excess Catamaran Ownership Cost in California: 2026 Breakdown

A realistic 2026 ownership cost breakdown for Excess 11, 13, and 14 catamarans in California, including fixed costs, operating costs, and planning ranges for first-time buyers.

February 25, 2026

Catalina to Channel Islands: 3 First Itineraries for New Catamaran Owners

Three practical first itineraries for new catamaran owners sailing Southern California, from Catalina weekends to longer Channel Islands progression routes.

February 18, 2026

Excess 11 vs 13 vs 14: Which Model Fits Your Cruising Plans Best?

Compare the Excess 11, 13, and 14 by use case, crew size, handling style, and ownership goals so first-time catamaran buyers can choose the right model with confidence.

January 4, 2026

Catalina Island by Catamaran: Why Excess Is Ideal for California Cruising

Catalina Island offers some of California's best cruising grounds, just 26 miles from the mainland. Here's why an Excess catamaran might be your ideal vessel for exploring this iconic destination.

January 1, 2026

Welcome to the Sail Pacific Blog for Excess Catamaran Buyers

Discover the latest news from Sail Pacific, Excess Catamarans updates, sailing tips, and stories from the cruising community.

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