Nacra F18 Infusion Explained

Nacra F18 Infusion
Image Boat:File:NACRA F18 Infusion Formula 18 catamaran sailboat 4227.jpg
Designer:Morrelli & Melvin, Vink, Larsen, Young
Location:Netherlands
United States
Year:2007
Class:Formula 18
Brand:Nacra Sailing
Builder:[|role = [[One-design]] racer

|boats = |crew = 2|trapeze = Twin|draft = |air draft =|displacement = 3970NaN0

|hulls =|hull type = Catamaran|construction = vinylester fibreglass foam sandwich|loa = 18.11feet|loh =|lwl = |beam = 8.53feet|hull draft =|hull weight =|engine =

|appendages =|keel type = twin daggerboards|ballast = |rudder type = twin transom-mounted rudders

|rigs =|rig type = Bermuda rig|I = |J = |P = |E = |mast length =|rig other =

|sails =|sailplan = Fractional rigged sloop|sailarea main = 183square feet|sailarea headsail= 46square feet|sailarea spin = 226square feet|sailarea gen =|sails other =|sailarea upwind =|sailarea downwind=|sailarea total = 229square feet

|rating =|d-pn =|rya-pn =|phrf =

|status =|previous = Nacra Inter 18|successor = Nacra F18 Evolution

The Nacra F18 Infusion was announced in 2006 and launched in January 2007 as a one design racing catamaran conforming to the Formula 18 class rules. It quickly developed into a class in its own right.

The principle design team was Morrelli & Melvin but also included significant input from Peter Vink (Performance Sails) and Gunnar Larsen (Nacra).[1]

The design takes its name from the vacuum infusion process used in its hull construction.[2] [3]

The Nacra F18 Infusion has been a recognized World Sailing as an international competition class since November 2010.[4]

The Nacra F18 Infusion design was later developed into the F18 Evolution and the NACRA F20 Carbon.[5] [6]

Design

The Nacra F18 Infusion is a racing sailboat, built to the Formula 18 Class Rules and its own One Design construction manual. These rules dictate that it is a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars. The boat has a sandwich construction with fibreglass skins made using vinylester resin over a foam core. The Mk3 version uses epoxy resin rather than vinylester resin which, due to revised Formula 18 class rules,[7] is permitted to use.

Variants

The Nacra infusion is the third generation of Nacra Formula 18. It started in 1996 with the launch of the Nacra Inter 18 designed by Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin. This was followed in 2001 by the Nacra Inter 18 designed by Alain Comyn.

Nacra F18 Infusion Mk1
  • Announced in 2006, the design began production in 2007.[2] [3] [8]
    Nacra F18 Infusion Mk2
  • Launched in 2011, the boat was upgraded with new foils and several other updates.[9] [10]
    Nacra F18 Infusion Mk2.5
  • Launched in 2014, the main update was a completely new sail design. The rudder system was also significantly updated, along with other small improvements.[11]
    Nacra F18 Infusion Mk3
  • Launched in 2018, the boat has epoxy construction and several upgrades.[12] [13]
    Nacra F18 Infusion Mk3 with FCS (Flight Control System)
  • Launched in 2018, the FCS option was also made available alongside the standard boat. It has updated daggerboard cases and rudder fixing to allow the installation of optional hydrofoils. These changes took the boat out of the class, but like the Nacra 20 FCS, it was still a fully foiling design. It utilises L-shaped hydrofoil rudders and Z-shaped carbon fibre daggerboards.[14]

    With the introduction of the Evolution in 2019, the Infusion Mk3 made the modification standard in 2021.[12]

    Nacra F18 Evolution
  • This model was announced in 2019[15] and is a new design equipped only for the Formula 18 class. The biggest change is the new hull design incorporating reverse raked stems, horizontal chines, a revised longitudinal connecting beam design and deck sweeping mainsail option.[5] It won the Formula 18 World Championship in its second attempt, finishing in the top 10 in 2021 and then winning the 2022.[16] [15]

    Operational history

    The Nacra infusion has won the Formula 18 World Championships five times 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015.[17] In addition the class has held a One Design World Championships.

    Ref.
    2011NED3

    		NED1933

    		AUS1978

    		[18] [19]
    2012


    		[20] [21]
    2013AUS1668

    		AUS26

    		AUS1646

    		[22] [23]
    20151884

    		GER211

    		NED5

    		[24] Web site: Nacra Global Challenge & Infusion Worlds 2015 by Laurens Morel - Catamaran Racing, News & Design . 9 August 2015 .

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Nacra Works: Interview with Gunnar Larsen & Peter Vink - Catamaran Racing, News & Design . 12 March 2012 .
    2. Web site: Nacra F18 – Nacra Sailing .
    3. Web site: Nacra F18 Infusion Sailboat specifications. 29 June 2020. Boat-Specs.com. 2020. https://archive.today/20200729230153/https://www.boat-specs.com/sailing/sailboats/nacra/nacra-f18-infusion. 29 July 2020. live.
    4. Web site: Nacra F18 Infusion. 29 July 2020. . sailing.org. 2020. https://archive.today/20200729231713/https://www.sailing.org/classesandequipment/INFU.php. 29 July 2020. live.
    5. Web site: Nacra F18 Evolution. 29 July 2020. . nacrasailing.com. 2019. https://archive.today/20200729183308/https://www.nacrasailing.com/our-boats/race-boats/nacra-f18-2/. 29 July 2020. live.
    6. Web site: Nacra F20 Carbon. 29 July 2020. . nacrasailing.com. 2019. https://archive.today/20200727150323/https://www.nacrasailing.com/our-boats/race-boats/nacra-f20/. 27 July 2020. live.
    7. Web site: F18 class welcomes epoxy as class legal . 24 March 2018 .
    8. Nacra Infusion (Mk1) Boat Test . Yacht & Yachting Magazine (UK). Mark Evans.
    9. Web site: F18 Infusion MK2 .
    10. Web site: F18: Nacra Infusion MKII - Catamaran Racing, News & Design . 16 February 2011 .
    11. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20131225073039/http://www.nacrasailing.com/2014-nacra-infusion-updates/. 2013-12-25. Manufacturer Website explaining the 2014 updates.
    12. Nacra 18 Infusion MKIII Launch. Nacra Sailing . 2018-02-23.
    13. Web site: Nacra launches the Infusion MKIII: Epoxy & Convertible. 27 February 2018 .
    14. Web site: Nacra F18 – Nacra Sailing .
    15. Web site: New F18 Evolution presented by Nacra Sailing . 29 September 2019 .
    16. Web site: F18 Worlds 2022: Ravi Parent & Severin Gramm crowned World Champs - Catamaran Racing, News & Design . 16 October 2022 .
    17. Web site: New Nacra F18 "Evolution": Q&A with Bob Hensen & Fer van West - Catamaran Racing, News & Design . 21 October 2019 .
    18. Web site: 2011 Nacra Championship Event Website. https://web.archive.org/web/20111111063353/http://nacrachampionship.com/. 2011-11-11.
    19. Web site: Nacra Infusion Worlds at Texel, Holland - Overall .
    20. Web site: Nacra 2012 World Results. https://web.archive.org/web/20120611042821/http://rotserver.mondriaanict.nl/IIS/finishlists/nacra2012/index.htm. 2012-06-11. mondriaanict.nl.
    21. Web site: Nacra 2012 Infusion Worlds Overall Race Repot.
    22. Web site: Results 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140311142539/http://www.southportyachtclub.com.au/results/2013/events/f18nacra/SGrp1.htm. 2014-03-11. southportyachtclub.com.au.
    23. Web site: Adam Beatie and Jamie Leitner emerge Nacra Infusion World Champs.
    24. Web site: Sailwave results for at 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151114080627/https://hellecat.nl/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/WKNacra1.htm . 14 November 2015 .

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Nacra F18 Infusion".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.