NACRA 5.2 talk is tempting to share in... having sailed #98 with such owners as Chris Christensen, Dirk & Eric Lundquist, Jim Leonard, Mike Mead, and my good buddy, Larry Shannon.

We had a dealership in Pensacola that made a very early buy from NACRA and the Roland brothers. During our watch we modified the trampoline so the jib leads ran under the trampoline to the front beam, proved the rake spreader was faster, and finally pioneered the double trap system which was approved by the Class shortly after the NAMSA NAs in Treasure Island (circa 1976 0r 7).

The boat was under - powered to begin with and performance in heavy air stamped that as truth. One can go to a beam mounted jib or self tacking system, but the boat would even lose more point and lose reaching power. Ya can not make the short rig faster with a smaller jib on a 5.2. Depending on the hull number, the hulls are overweight and overweight X, and XL in kilos or pounds. That is original cardboard hull stringers, foam layup by NACRA, or foam laminate by Frank Butler/Catalina Yachts.

Singlehanding the boat sans jib was a hoot, but the boat was really difficult to tack in a sea state. I would want a small jib, a bridal foil (5.5 or 5.8 style) to secure the pole under for stiffness and prevent the bows to be pinched. Break down and go for a self tacking system off an F 16, have your jib recut, deep six the furler, and fly boldly, fly.