Actually this version appears to be still offered in Europe.

http://www.nacraeurope.com/nacra17.php




This in itself is true but that is because the last time I checked the European prices the A2 was the most expensive A-cat ever and that included the Marstrom A-cats.

The I17-R or F17 was offered to somebody I know at 17.850 Euro's, that is more expensive then "The Tool A-cat" and the Boyer A-cats used to go for.

Maybe things changed in the last 12 months but I doubt it.





Normally you would have a point but since there have been no less then 6 different versions of the Inter-17 in the 9 years since its inception, your statement is totally bogus They are and have been :

Aus I-17, EU I-17, US I-17R, EU I-17XL, US F17 and now the new EU I-17


And all these versions have been sufficiently different to have significantly different ratings.

The European Texel rating already lists 3 different Inter-17 singlehanders at ;

Nacra Inter 17 109
nacra Inter 17 Xl 107
Nacra Inter 17 R 102

This doesn't include the new EU I-17 yet of which the dealor claims that is has a larger spinnaker and apparently 15 kg less weight.

Source : http://www.watersportverbond.nl/data/Z8F_numdet-01-4-02-2007.pdf

and

http://www.nacraeurope.com/nacra17.php


At least in the A-cat class older design still are somewhat competitive. If you had bought a EU I-17 say 3 years ago then today you will be chanceless against the I-17R or the new I-17. 2 sq. mtr. more sailarea and a spinnaker that is also 2 sq. mtr. larger makes sure of that.

In fact I would turn the argument around. If someone is worried about the need to having the latest version of a boat he would be far better off in the A-cat class then the I-17 class. The fact that some dealors call thier own classes One-Design classes doesn't mean they actually are on. Together with the Hobie Tiger the Inter-17 is the counterexample against such claims.



That is something I agree upon with you Dave.

Wouter