You'd think a sailor that good could keep the boat steering straight over the water. Moving the tiller that much is so slow. Can't be the skipper's fault, since he's one of the best in the world. If he was sailing with another man, and the design wasn't such a joke, he'd be steering straighter. Nuke the mixed format, and get rid of this boat!!!

Do I sound like Mark yet? No, I left out grand conspiracy theories. It's too early...

Mike

Huh, Mike, did you ever sailed on a sea, I mean with waves.

The skipper in the vid is making minor steering alterations.
Perfect, at sea ther's never a straight line which is the fastest.

That's just one of the big differences between flat water sailing and sailing on waves. (And it's one of the attractions too)

Um, yeah. It was a JOKE!!! Note the reference to unspoken conspiracy theories...

Mike

That last video, and others make it look like a pretty nice boat.

I'm guessing the curved foils do unload the leeward hull some, it definintely doesn't get on the foils and foil however.

KInda looks like an F18 infusion- only lighter with a few steroids to boot! I'm going to get it for that comment, aren't I?

Yes the curved foils do push up the hull and make it plane!

That isn't necessary slower as foiling. Getting on a foil induces a great amount of drag and only if you can adjust the angle of attack of the foil (after you are foiling!) you might can go faster. ( =Reducing the drag and increasing the wingforce).

Besides that, planing on a full sea is dope.

Mike it was not conspiracy.... it was just arrogance followed by incompetence.

Why should anyone outside the olympic movement care?
Take a look at the existing and potential classes that are the future of cat racing.

Wave, Flying A class, Floating A class
or
Hobie 16, F16s, F18s, Nacra 17s, Flying Phantoms, Foiling Carbon 20s

What is the forecast for the future?.... Do we have small niche classes of the new designs... ... OR do we have sustainable classes that run for 40 plus years... Does a half baked N17 grow the sport or is it a missed opportunity?

I suspect that a well behaved foil assisted N17 would have a niche outside the Olympics. I hope they fix it as soon as possible for the good of the overall sport.

As for using Billy Beason... a top ten T sailor and now the top N17 sailor in the world to demonstrate the manners of the boat.... It is a great video... not very persuasive tho when others in the pro N17 fleet reliably get photographed popping a wheelie.

At the very least, The Olympics deserved a fully baked boat.... The Tornado class rules caused the best in the world to develop and refine the T to be a great boat over time... however this process also created fundamental issues with fairness of the competition...I admit this was a checkered history.... ISAF demanded an absolute requirement for a SMOD that they control..... So.... they had to get it right... Sadly, arrogance (the designer and builder can create a refined boat in less then two years )and incompetence, (ISAF will manage the process so that the boat is right and not cover their collective butts) is the result... So.. not a conspiracy... just your standard SNAFU. ISAF is happy because they are in total control and everyone has the same half baked boat but... they have fixed the integrity of the competition problem.

ps. since this is my personal pet peeve.... SOMETHING about the situation must bother so many people to comment. Hmm....

Glad you're back. The silence was starting to worry me.

I will agree that doing anything via committee can produce unanticipated results which may not be easily/ quickly changed. Compromises must be made, and some portion of the world will always be unhappy with the result. Where have we seen this before?

Mike

My only complaint with the introduction of the N17 is it further splintered the existing classes. I would've much rather seen the infusion chosen, or another boat that fit in a class.

Doesn't matter, it's done.

I'd love a 17, I think it would be a good boat for us. Only problems being that it's a Nacra and it's too damn expensive.

How's local support these days? That's gotta be a consideration too.

In New England it's fantastic. Rick Bliss is the man.

Just for you Mark

Phillip,
I dunno... that looks pretty fast to me.

Thanks... great boat porn!

Dear Nacra

Is this what they mean when they say,

"It was Stupid FAST!" ?

8-)

you have it right... emphasis on ..... stupid.... waterski moves off the boat is great boat porn.... fast... unless they are out front or dead last... hard to say if waterski moves are fast.. (NOT)

Personally.... I go with Bundy

Darren Bundock
Dear Nacra, when can we have some T rudders? She wants to foil upwind but needs a little lift in the rear.
Photo by Sander van der Borch Photography
— with Nina Curtis

The only real question here.,, is it ISAF and the technical committee covering their backside choosing a half baked boat telling the world how great it was???? ... OR is Nacra saving face by not fixing their half baked boat..(noting a good job fixing the mast)???

My gut tells me that it is ISAF... because Nacra needs/WANTS to sell these boats to the rank and file... I doubt those pics of stupid behavior help... (Any rec racers purchased one of these boats in NA yet???)

The image represents hard core seamanship in rough conditions. The reference to "stupid behavior" has no application in the case of this boat design.

Yes, the boat needs balance, but we have the next quad for NACRA to make the mods with ISAF approval, I'm sure.

We just need to be patient and enjoy the wealth of experience and depth of talent entering the Class.

will they be able to foil at the olympics given all the allegations of sh&t in the water?

So.... the answer to my question... ISAF or Nacra is pretty clear..... Gunnar Larsen responding to Bundy's snark

Gunnar Larsen
Hi Nina & Darren, Nacra 17 class is not a class to experiment with. We all know that. There is more parties involved, such as the Nacra 17 class, ISAF office and us the manufacturer. If the desire of the sailors is to spent some money on T-rudders or likewise solutions like stabilizers on the rudders. We already have the technology in place. Let's discuss this topic at the second Nacra 17 class meeting at the European championship in La grande Motte France in two weeks. Always open to talk and to recieve feedback ‪#‎empoweringsailors‬ Can you sent a formal request to the technical Nacra 17 class comite president?

Bundy acknowledges and then says ... Nothing happens until after Rio....

ISAF pooched this one.... Half baked....so they could prove they were the smartest ones in the room.... sigh....