Nacra F18 Infusion
 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Morrelli & Melvin, Vink, Larsen, Young |
| Location | Netherlands United States |
| Year | 2007 |
| Brand | Nacra Sailing |
| Builder(s) | [ |
| Role | One-design racer |
| Name | Nacra F18 Infusion |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 2 |
| Displacement | 397 lb (180 kg) |
| Trapeze | Twin |
| Hull | |
| Type | Catamaran |
| Construction | vinylester fibreglass foam sandwich |
| LOA | 18.11 ft (5.52 m) |
| Beam | 8.53 ft (2.60 m) |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | twin daggerboards |
| Rudder(s) | twin transom-mounted rudders |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Bermuda rig |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | Fractional rigged sloop |
| Mainsail area | 183 sq ft (17.0 m2) |
| Jib/genoa area | 46 sq ft (4.3 m2) |
| Spinnaker area | 226 sq ft (21.0 m2) |
| Total sail area | 229 sq ft (21.3 m2) |
| Racing | |
| Class association | Formula 18 |
|
| |
The Nacra F18 Infusion was announced in 2006 and launched in January 2007 as a one design racing catamaran conforming to the Formula 18 class rules. It quickly developed into a class in its own right.
The principle design team was Morrelli & Melvin but also included significant input from Peter Vink (Performance Sails) and Gunnar Larsen (Nacra).[1]
The design takes its name from the vacuum infusion process used in its hull construction.[2][3]
The Nacra F18 Infusion has been a recognized World Sailing as an international competition class since November 2010.[4]
The Nacra F18 Infusion design was later developed into the F18 Evolution and the NACRA F20 Carbon.[5][6]
Design
[edit]
The Nacra F18 Infusion is a racing sailboat, built to the Formula 18 Class Rules and its own One Design construction manual. These rules dictate that it is a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars. The boat has a sandwich construction with fibreglass skins made using vinylester resin over a foam core. The Mk3 version uses epoxy resin rather than vinylester resin which, due to revised Formula 18 class rules,[7] is permitted to use.
Variants
[edit]The Nacra infusion is the third generation of Nacra Formula 18. It started in 1996 with the launch of the Nacra Inter 18 designed by Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin.[8] This was followed in 2001 by the Nacra Inter 18 designed by Alain Comyn.[8]
- Nacra F18 Infusion Mk2
- Launched in 2011, the boat was upgraded with new foils and several other updates.[9][10]
- Nacra F18 Infusion Mk2.5
- Launched in 2014, the main update was a completely new sail design. The rudder system was also significantly updated, along with other small improvements.[11]
- Nacra F18 Infusion Mk3
- Launched in 2018, the boat has epoxy construction and several upgrades.[12][13]
- Nacra F18 Infusion Mk3 with FCS (Flight Control System)
- Launched in 2018, the FCS option was also made available alongside the standard boat. It has updated daggerboard cases and rudder fixing to allow the installation of optional hydrofoils. These changes took the boat out of the class, but like the Nacra 20 FCS, it was still a fully foiling design. It utilises L-shaped hydrofoil rudders and Z-shaped carbon fibre daggerboards.[14]
- With the introduction of the Evolution in 2019, the Infusion Mk3 made the modification standard in 2021.[12]
- Nacra F18 Evolution
- This model was announced in 2019[15] and is a new design equipped only for the Formula 18 class. The biggest change is the new hull design incorporating reverse raked stems, horizontal chines, a revised longitudinal connecting beam design and deck sweeping mainsail option.[5] It won the Formula 18 World Championship in its second attempt, finishing in the top 10 in 2021 and then winning the 2022.[16][15]
Operational history
[edit]The Nacra infusion has won the Formula 18 World Championships five times 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015.[17] In addition the class has held a One Design World Championships.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | NED3 Coen de Koning (NED) Thijs Visser (NED)
|
NED1933 Gunnar Larsen (NED) Sam Frank (sailing) (NED)
|
AUS1978 Adam Beattie (AUS) Jamie Leitner (AUS)
|
[18][19] |
| 2012 | Gunnar Larsen (NED) Sam Frank (NED)
|
Coen de Koning (NED) Thijs Visser (NED)
|
Jorden Veenman (NED) Frank De Waard (NED)
|
[20][21] |
| 2013 | AUS1668 Adam Beattie (AUS) Jamie Leitner (AUS)
|
AUS26 Mick Guinea (AUS) Viv Haydon (AUS)
|
AUS1646 Warren Guinea (AUS) Aaron Linton (AUS)
|
[22][23] |
| 2015 | 1884 Bastiaan Tentij (NED) Max van Pinxten (NED)
|
GER211 Jurgen Kerstens (GER) Tina Vercouteren (GER)
|
NED5 Tony Mels (NED) Claske Boschma (NED)
|
[24][25] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Nacra Works: Interview with Gunnar Larsen & Peter Vink - Catamaran Racing , News & Design". 12 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Nacra F18 – Nacra Sailing".
- ^ a b "Nacra F18 Infusion Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ World Sailing (2020). "Nacra F18 Infusion". sailing.org. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ a b Nacra Sailing (2019). "Nacra F18 Evolution". nacrasailing.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Nacra Sailing (2019). "Nacra F20 Carbon". nacrasailing.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ "F18 class welcomes epoxy as class legal". 24 March 2018.
- ^ a b c Mark Evans. "Nacra Infusion (Mk1) Boat Test" (PDF). Yacht & Yachting Magazine (UK).
{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - ^ "F18 Infusion MK2".[permanent dead link]
- ^ "F18: Nacra Infusion MKII - Catamaran Racing , News & Design". 16 February 2011.
- ^ "Manufacturer Website explaining the 2014 updates". Archived from the original on 25 December 2013.
- ^ a b Nacra 18 Infusion MKIII Launch. Nacra Sailing. 23 February 2018.
- ^ "Nacra launches the Infusion MKIII: Epoxy & Convertible". 27 February 2018.
- ^ "Nacra F18 – Nacra Sailing".
- ^ a b "New F18 Evolution presented by Nacra Sailing". 29 September 2019.
- ^ "F18 Worlds 2022: Ravi Parent & Severin Gramm crowned World Champs - Catamaran Racing , News & Design". 16 October 2022.
- ^ "New Nacra F18 "Evolution": Q&A with Bob Hensen & Fer van West - Catamaran Racing , News & Design". 21 October 2019.
- ^ "2011 Nacra Championship Event Website". Archived from the original on 11 November 2011.
- ^ "Nacra Infusion Worlds at Texel, Holland - Overall".
- ^ "Nacra 2012 World Results". mondriaanict.nl. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012.
- ^ "Nacra 2012 Infusion Worlds Overall Race Repot".
- ^ "Results 2013". southportyachtclub.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014.
- ^ "Adam Beatie and Jamie Leitner emerge Nacra Infusion World Champs".
- ^ "Sailwave results for at 2015". Archived from the original on 14 November 2015.
- ^ "Nacra Global Challenge & Infusion Worlds 2015 by Laurens Morel - Catamaran Racing , News & Design". 9 August 2015.
External links
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