I want to add a Formula legal spinnaker to my Nacra 5.5 sloop. Can I just buy what Nacra is selling for the new F-18 and add it? Will the measurements (pole length beyond hulls) fit the rule? If me and crew together weigh 300, what spinnaker should we be using? Thanks. Tim Bohan<br><br>

The spinnaker can extend 31.5 inches beyond the bows. The max spinnaker size is 205sf. You could buy it from anyone.<br><br>

Is the 5.5 legal F-18? In Europe I do not believe I have ever seen one.
<br>Klaus<br><br>

I believe the NACRA 5.5 could be made into a F18 without
<br>much cost. Someone or group has to come up with some
<br>North American rules or go with the EU rules. There is a
<br>group working on NA rules now but it looks like they are
<br>leaning in the direction that all boats must already have
<br>a one design class and meet their F18 rules also. Or at least
<br>all sails would have to be from the factory that made the boat.
<br>If Nacra comes out with a set of sails for the 5.5 that meet the F18 specifications you may be ok. I don't think you will see this as then you would not have to buy a new boat. I think in Europe you can use any sails that meet the specs. <br><br>

There are two spinaker size dependend on crew weight. That is if US F-18 is equal to EU F-18.
<br>
<br>Wouter<br><br>

The assumption prior to the next text is that US F-18 is EU F-18.
<br>
<br>It looks like the Nacra 5.5 is a very good platform to modify towards the F18-rule.
<br>
<br>Texel measurements give:
<br>
<br>Length overall-----weight----Main area----main luff----jib area -----jib luff
<br>---5,49---------------176--------16,26--------8,44-------5,58------5,74
<br>
<br>The raid version (I don't know if US has that one) has a jib of 4,53 and a jib luff of 5,54
<br>
<br>
<br>The measurements of F-18 are
<br>
<br>5,52 mtr. 173 kg 17,00 sq. mtr. 8,47 mtr. 4,15 sq.mtr. 5,50 mtr.
<br>
<br>However most F-18's measure in with main area 16,75 sq.mtr. that is the result of the fact that F-18 class measures the whole mast (and boom ?) and includes that in the total area instead of just the effective mast area and mainarea like Texel does. Or simpler put F-18 uses ISAF measurement methode and that is slighly different from Texel. 173 kg' is the weight of the plaform without the genaker gear.
<br>
<br>Now many sailors (nearly all in EU) remove the flap under the N5.5 sail in order to get a slower rating. Many believe that this area doesn't really help in performance but does help in getting a faster rating. So in the US you'll still have to the area of this flap.
<br>
<br>Now as you acan see the measurements of N5.5 are quite close and often on the right side of those of the F-18. Only real violation is the jib size, so you might need to get a new F18 jib if the US F-18 doesn't grandfather in your jib. You probabbly want a new jib anyway in order to sheet it of the forebeam and clean up the trampoline.
<br>
<br>Ofcourse you need to add a genaker too.
<br>
<br>Main point here is that platform, mast and mainsail are full comliant. Jib is not.
<br>
<br>
<br>Good luck
<br>
<br>Wouter<br><br>

It is Chris Herman's opinion at Performance catamarans that the boats that do not meet the rule as manufactured will not be elligiable under the US specifications of the F18 rule to race.
<br>
<br>MM
<br>
<br>Could somone please acknowledge and second this or deny it with some back up.
<br>
<br>Thank you in advance for your reply.
<br>
<br><br><br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>http://www.sailingproshop.com
<br>(800) 354-7245

Mark
<br>I don't know about Chris's statement. I do know the benefit of Formula 18 is that the manufacture can't tell us what to do. Build us the boats we want of we will buy from someone else. I support F-18 but I will not if Hobie and Performance try to tell the sailors how to run our class.<br><br>

Wouter<br><br>