We have a guy sailing his A in our club race series. (21 races in 2004 with on average 14 boats per race; sometimes 10 sometimes 23). We do get some nasty chop sometimes as the North sea in quite shallow (max depth = 33 to 50 foot) and I very muich expected him to suffer in the more extreme conditions. However this guy is succesful in the heavy stuff and short high chop as well. When he sails he typically scores 1st and 2nd's with a very rare 3rd. Maybe lightweight boats do suffer in these choppy conditions but it may well be much less significant than it is sometimes maked out to be.

One ting is for sure the A-cat can handle it (Same story in several races this year over here) ; also clear from the A-cat worlds video clip form the 2004 New Zealand worlds. This is independent of the overall speed in these conditions although this seems to be good just the same.

Wouter

Bob,

I think you would like the "Round the Island" race on your A boat, but you may want to rig a small spinnaker. Last year about the only up wind we had was from Ft. Walton to Destin. The rest was downwind with some broad reaching depending where you were on the course and the time. This year, I am planning on running all three sails again. Last year, I was still worrying about my mast which I have broken before in a high wind gust with loose main sheet. This year, I will allow a lot more twist in my main sail on the downwind if the winds are as reasonable as last year.

As for the cracks on the I17R speed, I believe we have a high level of competition here in the Pensacola/Ft. Walton beach area. To compare my I17R's speed to one other fellow that happens to sail an I-17 normal probably isn't the best way to go about it. The I17R is much more powerful (and lighter)than the I17 normal, plus here in Pensacola we routinely have anywhere from 20 to 30 boats on the starting line..

The start can make or break you. I know since I only had 2 decent starts in Mid-Winters. Actually, 3 but I blew the lead I had on the other two I17R's in the last race and almost flipped the boat 2X.

I certainly wish we lived closer together!

Tom

I think the fragility issue may be born of the fact that some hulls are easily dented. The easily made dings and wow's give the impression that the hulls are not strong enough to be slapped around or even pushed up the beach. If the hull can be deformed easily with the palm of your hand it does make one wonder. When I went shopping for a cat I was disappointed in the extra care that has to be taken with most of today's hulls.

I'm considering an A cat as a second boat. For cost reasons alone, I'm only considering wooden boats.

Do you have any knowledge of these, wooden, boats?

Thanks.

Hey Vicatman,

I have raced against the FX-1 before and won! Have you raced your boat with a spinnaker? Have you raced against an I17R? It's not quite as easy as just sailing with the main alone. A one-legged man in an butt kicking contest has more time to relax than a unisailor with a spinnaker up. We are running somewhere in the neighborhood of 350 sq. ft. of sail and that's when we are not using the jib! My earlier point was that the I17R would do better in the waves and gusts than the FX-1 or Taipan because of the bigger bows. Plus, I think the weight is a plus in those type conditions.

Tom

he said, she said... blah!

refer to PN numbers.

Well, PN number's help but you would probably get some argument there. Me saying I beat an FX-1 doesn't mean much either though. I just wanted to let the guy know that I had been on the course with one. About the only way to get a close estimate between the FX-1(1 up with Spin), I17R, and Taipan (1 up with spin)would be to let those boats race together for a season or two with skippers having relatively the same skill. Then maybe we could see which boat would be more suited to which conditions.

Tom

Thomm....I still disagree...I have sailed my FX in big waves here in the caribbean with no problem other than last years regatta here when it was blowing 25 and 6-8ft sea...I have races against a I-17 with very good sucess,,then I have to, I have a faster rating than the I-17....I have not put a kite on yet looking at that this summer...Im still not quite back to full strength...after an emergency surgery last month...the FX cuts right through the waves with great ease...so Im not concerned about that with a kite...the one-legged man part is the rub there...but as in all sailing its a learning curve...and being able to sail all year round I will have plenty of time to get the hang of it

Vicatman,

Well, it sounds like you like the boat you have. I don't know where your I-17 driver would rate. So, I can't really judge from that.

Anyway, all opinions aside, you will probably really enjoy the spinnaker. Most of the I17R guys that I race with are using a spinlock block for the spinnaker halyard and rachamatic blocks(4) for the spinnaker sheet. We also bungee the spinnaker sheet and halyard separately to the rear beam to restore some type of order to the boat. Many of us have also installed a cam cleat to the aft of the daggerboard well to lock-in the spin sheet say on a distance race or if we want to trap out and control with traveller only.

Just my 2 cents worth on the spinnaker set-up. I gotta at least talk sailing since the next race is until April 3-4.

Tom

Hi Guys
There is a race in the North called Cat Fight. They have a start for all single handed boats, scoring is base on portsmouth numbers. last year winner was a Nacra 5.5, but
check CRAM site for official results & boats.

Well, I guess if you are looking for a boat you can single hand that also has performance, maybe PN's would be the way to go. Let's take a look......

I17R 67
Taipan 4.9/F16 uni(1 up) spin 67.6
NACRA 5.5 uni 69.8
FX-1 71.2


Tom

I17R #124

lets also look at :
FX-One sail area 160 sq ft
I-17r sail area 176 sq ft and carbon mast
5.5 uni sail area 175 sq ft
so the numbers dont tell everything

I think the A Class fragility myth is due to the class' rules regarding no minimum weight years ago..... Cannot remember when the introduced min weight.

Since the introduction of min weight, the A Class has moved on to become one of the finest constructed boats in the world. Gone are the days off one regatta A Class'.

We have quiet a few A Class cats in our club which include Mark IV and V Boyers and Flyers. We have past and present A Class greats in our class such as Steve Brewin, Bruce McArthur and veteran John Goodier. We also regularly see the likes of Glenn Ashbey, Scott Anderson, Dave Brewer and Brad Collett.

These guys put their boats through conditions that send other boats back to shore and have keeped Tornados on their toes.

I have also seen A Class race on Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, Australia. This place is notorious for its large steep chop and strong wind.

I think the issue with their sea worthiness in waves as with all boats is the nut on the tiller and his skills steering over and down the waves.

These boats do not deserve the title fragile as the platforms are very stiff and reliable...... more so than many other classes.

As for the speed argument between the I17R, FX-1, F-16. I have never seen and FX-1 or I17R in OZ but I am sure all the owners love their boat and consider them quiet quick.

If for example you have a fleet of FX-1s in your club and have great racing.... would you realy care if an I17R is quicker????

What else are you going to do with the extra minute or so less spent on the race course........ Oh thats right get to the bar........ I'll just jump on my Tornado now and see you there

Hey Stephen,

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said " if you have a fleet of FX-1's." I can add or a " fleet of I17R's. We are trying to get more boats in our fleets. Well, that's why I am talking up the I17R anyway. We had five in the Pensacola area but one of the guys is selling his for the unbelieveably low price of $7,000.00 (he is buying a house or something)

Hey Vicatman,

There's your chance. Get it while you can. If you are over 200 pounds the I17R would be perfect for you! Then you could get ole Bruce to get an R also!!

Tom

ps. That I17R is for sale on the Catsailor Classifieds!

Where can I find the website for the I-17?

www.performancecat.com It's called the Nacra 17 now.

Hey Jake,

I took my NACRA 6.0 out late last year for a sail. (I was going to sail it for the " Round the Island " race but my son/crew couldn't make it)It drove like a truck as compared to my I17. The rudders are really loose. Have you changed anything on your rudders to get rid of the slop. Part of the problem was that I had way too much mast rake. I was trying to depower it some, but I will have to do it another way. I cannot stand that much weather helm. The I17 is about neutral. By the way, anyone have a spinnaker pole and spinnaker for sale for a NACRA 6.0

Tom

Actually yes I have. When I bought the boat, the rudder pivots had already been re-drilled to establish more forward rake (less helm) for spinnaker. After I got it and was disgusted with the amount of slop in the rudders, I bored out the castings, inserted nylon bushings, and replaced the rudder arm/crossbar unions with the rubber joints like the Bimare F18HTs. I am proud to say that I have practically no slop in my rudder system now (although I have to wrestle with the hotstick to get it to extend since rotation of the cross bar is no longer limited). The boat sails very neutral upwind with forward weight placement.

Having steered the I20 in comparison (I imagine the I17 is similar), I agree that the 6.0 is a much 'heavier handed' boat in that the I20 felt 'twitchy'. I felt in control on both of them but the I20 is much more susceptible to driver error and demands proper main sheet etiquette during tacking. It's close but I still prefer my 6.0.

Well, I hope I don't have to redrill the pivot hole. I hope I can just add the bushings or something.

I am looking forward to following the Tybee 500 this year. I want to see how the 6.0's do. I understand that there are some rather good 6.0 drivers going this year.

Also, the Performance Nationals will be in Tybee this year. Does that mean we will be racing in the Atlantic or some inside area?

Tom