Sam Holmes Sailing · video

What this video covers

A custom catamaran sunshade from multihullnets.com, priced around $2,000, covers the forward windows and foredeck of Sam Holmes's catamaran and installs solo in about five minutes.0:06 The shade is made to order from six measurements submitted to the company, with a roughly one-month lead time.0:23 Construction uses Dyneema rope around the perimeter, leather reinforcement patches, and a built-in tensioning system that Holmes rates above the trucker's hitches he used on DIY versions.0:57 A zipper slot accommodates the boat's baby stay, which had been the main obstacle with previous setups.1:08 Attachment points include the jib, stanchions, and a halyard that raises the shade high enough to walk under.2:23 Holmes tested three prior solutions — tarps, shade netting, and canvas — all of which flapped, tore, or failed within a week; this shade has held through 25 knots without significant movement.0:39 The mesh construction blocks nearly all direct sun but passes rain and reduces windage compared to solid fabric.3:10 At about 30 pounds it adds weight and takes locker space, and Holmes rolls the edges inward before squalls to prevent the boat from swinging at anchor.4:06 He uses it downwind under spinnaker but avoids it when docking in marinas due to windage.3:46

More from Sam Holmes Sailing

We hit a log sailing by strange Indonesian sea platformsAug 2026Replacing a window while sailing through pirate waters and wildlife of BorneoAug 2026Sandakan and Wildlife of BorneoAug 2026Kota Kinabalu Bound: Sailing, Survivor Island, Squalls, and Bugs, 3d printingJul 2026

From Sam Holmes Sailing — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.