- North American Catamaran Racing Association
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NACRA (North American Catamaran Racing Association) is a class of racing catamarans originating in the USA with adoption in Europe, Australia, and many island nations. Within the NACRA class are a variety of catamaran sizes and styles ranging from resort hire boats to performance racing.
Contents
History
The first NACRA's were built and designed by Tom Roland in California. It was a revolutionary boat with vertical seams and a teardrop hull shape. He established the Nacra name with the creation of the Nacra 5.2 and 18sq. His idea and design have been a major influence in today’s multihull world, with many large multihulls still using this hull shape[1]. NACRA catamarans are currently built by Nacra Australia in Brisbane, Qld, where Nacra has been produced since 1985, and by Performance Catamarans Inc. in California, USA.
Features
- A fully battened, boomless mainsail
- Adjustable diamond spreaders
- Mesh trampoline
- Adjustable kick-up rudder system
- Early models featured vertically split molds with hand-laid fiberglas which evolved to molded foam sandwich hulls. Newer boats are made from Vinylester foam sandwich.
- One piece extruded masts and beams
- Dacron sails
- Foam core battens
Current and notable past models
Model Period Length Over All Beam Weight Sail Area Spinnaker Crew Comments 4.5 4.50 m 2.44 m 120 kg 17.5 m² Optional 1-2 Skegs 460 4.50 m 2.35 m 142 kg 15.2 m² - 1-2 Skegs Blast 4,80 m 2,45 m 159 kg 15,6 m² 12,55 1-2 Skegs. Design: Alain Comyn 5.0 1985 5.0 m 2.44 m 130 kg 19 m² - 2 Skegs. Designer Roy Seaman 500 5.0 m 2.44 m 150 kg 17.6 m² 17 m² 1-2 Skegs 5.2 1979-mid-80 5.2 m 2.44 m 170 kg 20.43 m² - 2 Daggerboards 14sq late 1980's-Early 1990's 4.5m 2.44 105kg 14m² Optional 1 Daggerboards 16sq 5.0m 2.5m 130 kg 16 m² Optional 1 Daggerboards 18sq 5.48m 3.35m 18m² 1 Daggerboards F17 5.20 m 2.44 m 156 kg 15.25 m² 17 / 19 m² 1 Daggerboards F18 Inter 18 5.52 m 2.6 m 180 kg 20.45 / 21.15 m² 19/22 m² 2 F18 class boat, Design: Morelli und Melvin F18 Inter 2 5.52 m 2.6 m 180 kg 20.45 / 21.15 m² 19/22 m² 2 F18 class boat, Design: Alain Comyn F18 Infusion 5.52 m 2.6 m 180 kg 20.45 / 21.15 m² 19/22 m² 2 F18 class boat, Design: Morelli und Melvin 5.7 2 Skegs 570 5.65 m 2.44 m 163 kg 21.1 m² 21 m² 2 Skegs 5.8 1985 5.8 m 2.5 m 160 kg 22.8 m² - 2 Daggerboards. Designer Roy Seaman 580 5.8 m 2.44 m 188 kg 22.1 m² 23 m² 2 Daggerboards 6.0 6.10 m 2.59 m 191 kg 24.5 m² 2 Daggerboards N20 6.12 m 2.6 m 192 kg 20.45 / 24.9 m² 25 m² 2 Formula 20 class boat References
- ^ NACRA 36 Revisited
External links
- INCA International Nacra Class Association
- Brisbane Catamaran Centre, Australian NACRA manufacturer
- Nacra Europe
- Performance Catamarans Inc., US builder of F18 Nacras
A Class • ARC 17 • ARC 21 • ARC 22 • Astus 14.1 • Astus 16.1 • Astus 20.1 • Beachcat • Sprint 15 • Dart 16 • Dart 18 • Dragonfly 800 • Formula 16 • Formula 18 • Hobie • • Hobie 14 • Hobie 16 • Hobie 17 • Hobie 18 • Hobie Dragoon • Hobie Tiger • Hobie Wildcat • Nacra Infusion • Mystere • Nacra • Pacific Catamaran • Proa • RC 27 • RC 30 • SL 16 • Taipan 4.9 • Stealth F16 • Topcat • Tornado • Open Ocean Performance Sixties • Unicorn • Viper F16Categories:- Catamarans
- Sailing associations
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