Interesting is the lack of dyneema traplines, I thought that would be standard on a high performance cat like the N17.

ditto on the trap lines.

The rules are tight.... You can't drill a new hole in the boat!... you get to play with risers and bungee's and that's it.

So... the question will be... how reproducible are the masts... do you buy a quiver of sticks and sort for the one you like? Do you have a truck of sails to match?

Will the Olympics be BYOB or supplied by the games?

Good question... It was not part of Nacra's equip proposal to ISAF... I suspect it's BYOB with tight measurement standards for the factory supplied stuff.

If BYOB, then you might need 2 or 3 boats in different locations for training and then qualifying races. It gets real expensive real quick.

Always has been.... This is part of the reason behind US Olympics push to change the culture of the Olympic team... They got most of the sailors on board with a team approach... cut the costs and increase the training and coaching time. Teams still had their international training partners... especially after selection and before the games.. This remains a key feature of the new plan just announced.
The cost of the boat always pales in comparison to campaign and training costs. Note... Countries get qualified for the Olympics by their representatives competing at the grade I events.... so... you could have one team trying to qualify the US.... or six teams trying to qualify the US... Once the US is in (based on performance)... then the US gets to pick their team... (now done by performance of the 6 teams at a couple of late ISAF grade I events.

You could always self fund your campaign and do your own thing outside of US Olympic and win the key selection events...

TROUBLES FOR NACRA 17's OWNERS?
http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=143283

Oakcliff Sailing Center will be purchasing 8 Nacra 17s for Olympic and Youth development and training. This is awesome news!
http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/News/2012/Olympic_Sailing_Partners_with_Oakcliff.htm

HOLY COW!!!!!

This program will be the single most important development in our sport since the Hobie 14 and 16 and the birth of the the Hobie fleet.

We are well beyond the XX boat is better then your boat.. and the corresponding class wars (Yes we still have a few dead enders ... see the current Hobie fleet thread) ... Clearly, we are moving beyond the stand alone paper catamaran club as our organizing principle.

Promoting excellence in High performance racing could be what our paper and yacht clubs focus on in the future.

The key was always a partnership between a Yacht Club with US Olympic Sailing. Families that are supporting their kid will now have confidence that a real step beyond the junior opportunities in Hobie 16s and F16's. We have developed a few junior opportunities at the grass roots level but we have never managed anything to match the programs in 4twinkies and lasers.

This is a great development.!!!!

I have worked with Jay Kehoe in the past and I trust him to create a series of programs that allow young sailors to fully develop their game. Jay Kehoe was the YES voice I needed in the yacht club to get Annapolis Yacht club to host the Hobie 16 Junior NA's with the annual Junior Olympic Festival.

We have a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to get organized at our Yacht club and Catamaran fleet level and get some junior sailors started in cats or on the road to the Oakcliff.

The Sarasota YC has a great program already and they must be thrilled that their sailors will soon have a national opportunity to continue their development.

We need MORE clubs and One Design classes to get on board now.

In the end..... this will help the quality and fun factor in our club and regional racing. There is nothing like competing against top sailors... (especially hot shot young guns with attitude) racing at your regatta to get the juices flowing again among the old guard.

Great result!!!! very very cool!

This is hugely exciting news. Here is a perfect opportunity to partner with US Sailing, and presents a direct path for those of you interested in donating cash to help cat sailors in the Olympics.

I've opened a dialogue with Dawn. Jack has been asking us to be ready to blaze a trail for development, now is the time.

I'm going to schedule a phone meeting for the Multihull Racing Committee within the next few weeks to plan a path forward for this year (for this and other business). If you want to help, let me know.

Mike

Mike,

I'm in, but I'm in Singapore for the month, so try to schedule the meeting either morning or evening (13 hour time difference!).

-Jeff