Thanks Laura and Matt. Your comments have made me rethink the mono vs cat decision. In the end price and availability may be the deciding factor but my instincts were the same as yours. The SIL said she could already see alliances forming. The niece and I like to go for the gusto but my wife and nephew enjoy being on a boat the most once the anchor is down.

My niece didn't think sailing a cat was "real" sailing and said something about the higher price. I thought that too until I actually sailed one. I think that once she takes a look at the speed log she'll be hooked!