Can Catamarans Sail Up Wind? Yacht Ends Up in The Rocks! Catamaran vs Monohull: Who Wins?
Everyone told us: “Don’t buy a catamaran, they can’t sail upwind.” Well, in today’s video, we’re putting that theory to the test as we line up Rúna, our Excess 11 catamaran, against an unsuspecting monohull 😎 to see who’s really faster going upwind - and we see how close we can take Rúna into the wind.
Our Corsican adventure also continues as we sail from the lively citadel of Bonifacio down to the breathtaking Lavezzi Islands. Along the way, we explore Roccapina’s white sand beaches and rugged cliffs, wander Bonifacio’s medieval streets, and soak up unforgettable sunsets at anchor.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. An anchorage that looked like paradise turned into chaos overnight when strong winds funnelled through and charter boats began dragging into us and onto the rocks.
From epic upwind sailing and racing head-to-head with a monohull, to discovering hidden corners of Corsica that feel like another planet, this week’s episode is definitely a fun one!
So… can catamarans sail upwind? Watch to find out.
Episode 17, Chapter One.
00:00 - 0:36 Introduction
0:36 - 2:42 Sailing & Exploring Roccapina
2:42 - 4:50 Sailing our Catamaran upwind
4:50 - 6:11 What is Upwind Sailing?
6:11 - 6:45 Sailing to Bonafacio
6:45 - 7:16 Catching Fish For Dinner
7:16 - 8:09 Exploring Bonafacio
8:09 - 12:41 Racing a Monohull upwind
12:41 - 14:39 The Archipelago of Lavezzi
14:39 - 17:03 Yacht drags into the Rocks
17:03 - 20:14 What happened?
20:14 - 22:12 Exploring Rondinara Beach
Hey! We’re Ruth and Andrew 👋🏼
Earlier this year, after years of dreaming, we left our family, friends and lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, behind as we set off to chase our shared dream of sailing the world. In April, we bought our 11m catamaran, Rúna, which we now call home as we live, work, sail and adventure full-time. Join us as we explore the Mediterranean and get to grips with life at sea 🏝️
Find daily content on our socials:
📸 Instagram: http://instagram.com/lifestylegibbon
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/therunalife
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therunalife
#sailing #sailingboat #lifeonboard #sailingcouple #liveaboardlife #catamaranlife #excess11 #yachtlife #mediterraneansailing #catamaransailing #monohull #sailingrace
🎬 Huge thanks to @SAILTAHITI for sharing promo XS11 footage for our intro!
The Runa Life
Andrew and Ruth Gibbon traded corporate Edinburgh for an Excess 11. Follow their 2026 Mediterranean circuit aboard Rúna in this technical feature.
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