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PRESS RELEASE – Nacra F18 Evolution revealed

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Press Release Nacra F18 Evolution

The Nacra Sailing F18 Evolution revealed; a racing catamaran representing a unique design combination of 45 years of experience with advanced technology and sophisticated design tools.

Nacra Sailing has chosen to replace the renowned Nacra F18 Infusion with the newly developed Nacra F18 Evolution on Nacra’s 45th anniversary.

Nacra Sailing teamed up again with their long-time development partner Morrelli & Melvin to set its goals in this ambitious project. Nacra Sailing and Morrelli & Melvin have a long history, having done many successful projects together such as the Nacra F18 Infusion which was launched in 2006. This successful relationship also includes the development of the Olympic Nacra 17 what has changed the face of sailing by becoming the first event in Olympic sailing to introduce hydrofoiling.

The design program of the new Nacra F18 Evolution started last year at the 2018 F18 World Championship in Sarasota, USA, when M&M Naval Architects Ferdinand van West (2 time F18 World Champion) and Pete Melvin (Olympic sailor) teamed up to sail the Nacra F18 Infusion. Together with Nacra Sailing owner and technical director Peter Vink’s coaching, the duo finished their first event in 6th place. Inspired by the experience, they brought back a wealth of data from the event which they applied directly to the drawing board.

The primary ambition of the new Formula 18 design was to build upon the Nacra F18 Infusion’s unique pedigree as the best all-around performing F18, over the full range of sailing conditions for every sailor.

The hydrodynamic characteristics of the Nacra F18 Evolution’s hull shape are completely revised and benefit from the latest design tools used by America’s Cup teams to analyse the performance of dozens of hull shape iterations in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. Since their involvement in the last three America’s Cups, Morrelli & Melvin have invested in using NUMECA’s FINE/Marine CFD software for design optimization, utilizing high performance computing resources and advanced performance prediction simulators to add fidelity to race model analysis.

Most notable, the Nacra F18 Evolution’s hull shape design has an aggressively styled raked wave-piercing bow with a horizontal hull chine running back into the transom. This elegant solution cleverly distributes the volume and contour curvatures desired for each dynamic condition and delivers a unique compromise for both sailing upwind and downwind at different speeds. The optimized foredeck in front of the main beam and embedded beams into the hull add extra sleekness to this design.

There was a careful focus on the platform configuration, which features an updated longitudinal beam position to optimize the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic balance between the sailplan and the appendages. This has been further enhanced by a new high aspect ratio rudder design, refining wetted area, and updates to the hydrofoil sectional shape to the latest developments.

Close collaboration with the aerodynamic sail design of Performance Sails has ensured an optimized sailplan which features the regatta proven deck sweeper mainsail and an optimized jib design tailored to the new mainsail.

The Nacra F18 Evolution will make its F18 worlds debut at the 2020 Formula 18 World Championship in Formia, Italy, and is available for order with first deliveries starting in February 2020.

The Nacra F18 Infusion will stay in production, as the only convertible Foiling Catamaran on the market that can be easily converted to a F18 class legal boat.

About the Formula 18 Class

The Formula 18 class, abbreviated F18, is a non-foiling, restricted development, formula-design sport catamaran class. It was started in the early 1990s and quickly grew getting class recognition by World Sailing, with large racing fleets all over the globe.

Technical Data

Tech Data Nacra F18 Infusion FCS Nacra F18 Evolution
F18 class legal foiling (FCS) Formula 18 class legal
convertible yes no
length 5.52 m 5.52 m
Beam 2.60 m 2.60 m
mainsail Area 17.00 m² 17.00 m²
Jib Area 4.30 m² 4.30 m²
Spin Area 21.00 m² 19,68 m² 21.00 m²
mast length 9.10 m 9.10 m
Weight 180 kg 190 kg 180 kg
Hull construction Epoxy Sandwich FRP

Resin Infused

Epoxy Sandwich FRP

Resin Infused

The post PRESS RELEASE – Nacra F18 Evolution revealed appeared first on Nacra Sailing - Worlds best catamarans.


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