Nacra INFUSION

PHOTO JEREMY EVANSHe continues, ‘I have never sailed a cat that canbe driven downwind in breezy conditions like thisone. Even with my crew weighing less than 60kgout on the wire, I can sail high to pick up speedand drive off downwind as the boat accelerates.The only time I’ve not been confident is downwindin light conditions when it seems very difficult toget the hull “unstuck”. More time on the water isobviously needed!’So is this third time lucky for Nacra? Whateverhappens, the Infusion is a beautifully presentedand very welcome newcomer to high performancesailing, while the F18 class of open design cats isclearly on a roll. ■Above The hoist is veryneat. The spinnakertackline is led under thetrampoline so it can bepulled or let off by thehelm or crew on eitherside of the boat, on oroff the trampoline.ANSWER BACKfrom Gunnar LarsenWe are very happy with Y&Y’s test of ourlatest Nacra F18 Infusion. The only fact wecould add is that the longer we sail with thisnew boat as Nacra-fleet, the better webecome together.If anybody has questions about their NacraF18 or any other Nacra, they are alwayswelcome to walk up to one of our teamridersor distributors and ask — this is why they areat the events. All Nacra dealers/distributorslive by the Nacra slogan: just have fun outthere! The network of Nacra distributors isthere to keep the sailors on the water so theykeep on enjoying themselves!This new boat has had some incredibleresults so far in its first year, without havingtoo many problems. We have just finished theArchipelago Extreme Raid in Sweden, and allseven boats made it easily to the finish inthese extreme conditions (high waves and bigwinds) without any problems — apart fromone boat that hit a group of underwater rocksat 20 knots!We hope to see you soon at one of ourdistributors for more information about thisnew hi-tech engineered F18, and that you willjoin us on the water to have fun!Infusion specificationsCOMPARISONS… Where does the Nacra Infusion fit in? Here are some alternatives…DESIGN: Morrelli & Melvin in 2005BUILDER:Nacra, CaliforniaLENGTH: 5.52mBEAM: 2.6mSAILING WEIGHT:180kgSAIL AREA: MAIN 17sq mJIB4.15sq mSPINNAKER 21sq mSCHRS: 1.01PRICE: £11,950CONTACT:YachtsandYachting.comNacra Europe BVFloralaan 2A2231ZV RijnsburgThe NetherlandsTEL: +31 (0)71 40 800 80FAX: +31 (0)71 40 881 44EMAIL:sales@nacraeurope.comWEBSITE:www.nacraeurope.com■ Hobie TigerThe Tiger is the biggest class withinF18 and a one-design class in its ownright with world and Europeanchampionships. It has won five out ofsix F18 worlds to date. Same F18specification as Infusion.LOA: 5.51mBEAM: 2.6mSAILING WEIGHT:180kgSAIL AREA: UPWIND 22.9sq mSPINNAKERN/ASCHRS: 1.01GUIDE PRICE: £11,295*■ CapricornVery hot F18 built in Australia withslimmer hulls than the Infusion. Topperformers include three ‘Corinthian’GBR teams who regularly manage toembarrass pro-am sailors. Same F18specification as Infusion.LOA: 5.52mBEAM: 2.6mSAILING WEIGHT:180kgSAIL AREA: UPWIND 21.15sq mSPINNAKER 21/19sq mSCHRS: 1.01GUIDE PRICE: £12,499**Guide prices are approximate