PTP,

Sounds like to me you had a quiet normal experience for your first RTI. Just think what you would do differently next time. And get that crew of yours straightened out :-)!

Tom Turlington
NACRA F17 124 ( I'm now on a singlehander because I have a hard time finding crew when I had my 6.0 :-)!

I did an internet search but could not find any specs on the Nacra F17. I like to keep my facts straight so can anybody help me in getting the Nacra F17 specs.

Up till now I've only been able to find comments that state that the Nacra F17 is just the nacra I-17R with a new boom setup and large "Big Boy" spinnaker of 17 to 18 sq. mtr. (was between 15 and 16 sq. mtr on the I-17R) and the possibility that it would feature the new (fatter) nacra rudder and daggerboards. With the daggerboards cut shorter than before.

Is this correct ? Or am I missing something ?

Wouter

Wouter,

You could go to Cathouse1.com and maybe contact Mark Biggers. Those guys up there have a pretty good size fleet of Nacra F17's, and I believe they are the ones that started this F17 business in the first place. His response may be a little slow though because they have Nationals going on up there this week.

Tom

ps. Don't forget the 1 after cathouse or you may end up at quite a different type of site..............

thanks, I think I will write Mark Biggers an e-mail.

So far, after reading the class rules and all other info, I found the following :

(I'm write this up so you can check up wether I understood it right, please correct me if I'm wrong)


-1- Class rules say nothing about any dimension or specification of the boat. They do declare the F17 to be a One-design class and state :



(P.s. Just as a side comment but does the quoted rule allow any and all modifications that will make the boat more competitive ? Sorry I couldn't resist ! )

In this respect teh F17 class differs from the I-17 class. However the class rules seem to rule on most aspects anyway. Example : like the maximum purchase allowed on the mainsheet or downhaul (8:1) and how many grommets may be put into the trampoline. The freedom to modify is then limited to the parts on which on rules exist. This includes most blocks and lines and you may alter how some control lines are run.



-2- within the Nacra F17 class you may use the original (long) I-17 daggerboards or cut them down (or have them cut down) to the following specs : http://www.nacraclass.com/northamerica/dagger_mod.jpg


-3- If you are heavier than 210 lbs (in swimsuit) then you may use a larger spinnaker. The two sizes are not specifief in the class rules. The leaflet specifies TBA for the big bouy spi and gives 167 sq. ft (=15.5 sq .mtr.) for the small boy spi size. (leaflet can be found at : http://cathouse1.com/F17.htm ). The leaflet refers us to the class rules but these do not specify the big bouy spi size as I stated earlier.


-4- The leaflet ( http://cathouse1.com/F17.htm ) then specifies :

mast height = 30" 4' = 9.25 mtr.
mainsail area + mast = 170 sq.ft. = 15.8 sq. mtr.

Boat weight is not specified

I'm unable to find a similar leaflet for the orginal I-17 and the I-17R ; however Texel measured the I-17R with :

mainsail luff length = 8.53 mtr => suggesting a 9 mtr mast = 29" 4'
mainsail area + mast = 16.44 sq. mtr. = 177 sq. ft.

From this it appears that a sligtly taller mast is used on the F17 but with a slightly smaller mainsail area; lowered by 0.6 sq. mtr. = 6.5 sq.ft. That or the same rig is used on both boats. That or someone (maybe me) fouled up on the conversion or the measuring of the I-17R.


-5- private comments suggest that the hulls were not made significantly lighter with respect to the I-17R in order to allow the single forestay setup to be used when so desired. This loads up the bows more and thus taking material out is not wise. The single forestay setup has the advantage that it allows better gybing under spinnaker.


-6- The F17 class has a weight equalization system allowing the heavy sailors to carry a bigger spi and progressively forcing lighter sailors to carry corrector weights.



That is what I have been able to find on the net and on the www.nacraclass.com website and the site of mark biggers and cathouse http://cathouse1.com/



Please correct me if I got something wrong.

Somebody asked me why I'm doing this. Well I often describe the F17 as being the same as an I-17R with a new and larger spinnaker design for heavy sailors and modified rudders/daggerboards. I want to make sure that my comments are (or remain) truthful.


Wouter

Wouter,

The I-17R and NACRA F17 both have the 30' 4" mast. It's a cut down I-20 mast. I actually went and measured the cross section on an I-20 as compared to my mast. The I-17 " Normal " has the 29' mast.

I really don't believe they are making the F boats lighter, but I haven't seen or raced against a new F17.

Tom Turlington
Nacra F17/I17R

how come, whenever I hear about RTI, its always nightmare stories about being on the boat for 14 hours at a time. People stopping along the way, finishing the next morning... that kind of stuff?

I mean its not like you came across a shrimp boat broken down on a Georgian mudflat with a good-ole-boy crew that made you busicuits and eggs!

Here's the way it works: The first RTI that you attend will be a drifter. Thereafer, the race you decide to skip will have perfect conditions. The trick is to be there every year.

Guys,

Before this get's crazy, the Nacra F17 and the Inter 17R are the same boat. There have been some nice upgrades like the mid-pole spin system, side lace tramp, tubular boom, reshaped daggers, all else the same. No need to to go off on some path that will ultimately lead you in a big circle.

Bob
2004 Nacra F17 North American Champ

Isn't that the truth. I can only add that the first AND second you attend will be a drifter (but still enjoyable) but the next two years that you don't make it will be in perfect conditions. The key here is to not miss any years.