I think this is one of the best things to hit the market in a long time.

I have always said that the Nacra 500 was pretty much the best (teenage) youth boat there is; I think it is better then the SL16 for example. Sadly Nacra never pushed the 500 to its full potential.

However, this Viper club may well be the perfect answer to a deadlocked situation.

I has the excellent superwing alu mast (shared by most F16's) that allows for a surprisingly wide range of tuning thus effectively making the rig suitable to a wide range of crewweights. This mast is also of the new mast variant (not tear drop shaped !) that all modern boats like the A's and F18's are using now. The youth will therefore learn to sail with this kind of mast from the very beginning !

The new club sail area is identical to the Nacra 500 (also just right) but the club version remains fully F16 compliant allowing the youths to upgrade their boats to full (adult) F16 specs by getting a new mainsail and spinnaker (jibs are identical). Probably while selling the old suit to a new young team if the sails are still up for it.

The Viper club is also lighter then the Nacra 500 (the single complaint about this skeg boat) and does have daggers which makes the Viper Club a true racing boat.


Smart move, guys and girls !

No doubt about it.

Wouter