Well, this weekend was pretty fun because for the first time in my life, I got to jump on a Nacra F18 (not the infusion) and I gotta say it surprised me. I really enjoyed the F18, but it really felt different from the F16. While the F16 felt like a frantic little hot rod, the F18 felt like a smooth lexus, I think mainly because of the weight difference. I think I still prefer my frantic little hot rod better, especially when it comes to pulling the boat up the slipway, but i just loved how smooth the F18 was through the waves. and the size of the trampoline was great. Now if i can just have a go on a capricorn :P

Strangely, i heard that the F18 is a really powerful boat. I didn't find the loads more than the F16, maybe because the main has a 10:1 while my F16 has a 8:1?

Sorry, i don't know if there's really a point to this post, just thought I would share that i had fun sailing a new boat this weekend and really appreciating other design philosophies.

If you think the F18 is a Lexus (and they are a very fine boat)..... You should try and line up a ride on a Marstrom Tornado. It may however ruin any future sloop rig sailing for you. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

TA, that's a blatant attempt at poisoning me no? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What was the wind strength when you saild the F18? I have found it is a slug under 10 knots, where the F16 is much more responsive sailed solo in lighter air. The F18's seem to come into their element in 15+ wind, two up of course.

Transparent??? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Go for a spin on my little toy and it will be like jumping on one of Scotty's moto bikes! Will be over Changi in a couple of weeks. Worth having a try.

oh god, you guys are all horrible. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> You know how disturbing this sort of mental torture is on a person? Moth, A class, F18, F16....drool.

Timbo, no wind wasn't strong at all. Maybe maxed out at about 10 knts. Single trap upwind at best. The boat still needed quite a bit of sorting. it was like just the second or third time it was on the water. Yes, the F18 wasn't quite as lively as the F16, but in a way, i kinda liked that because it was quite as on the edge, made for a more relaxing sail...if you know what i mean. Whereas the f16, due to it's lightweight, takes a bit more work in the gusts and through chop.

Light air sailing is for old women and children.

Just curious Timmy, when where you on an F18?

Hey Davey Poo...you were here, at my house, with your Inter 20, about what, 5 years ago? Remember? Back when I had my Jav. 2 and we had that little get-together here.

Alex brought the (then) new Nacra F18 down and left it here for two weeks, I was seriously thinking about buying it. I sailed it in light, medium and big wind here.

It was a very nice boat, no doubt, and it was great fun in big air, which is why I think they became so popular in France, England, etc. where they get more -big wind- than we do, certainly a lot more than down here in Florida.

Incidently, that was the first time I was able to sail an Inter 20, YOUR Inter 20, remember? That is when I decided to get an Inter 20 instead of that F18. Largely because all of YOU GUYS were also going to the Inter 20 and there were NO other F18's to race against back then, remember?

Thanks for turning me on to that boat, still my favorite 2 man beach cat in any wind. If I had steady crew I'd still have one.

I've got no -beef- with the F18's, I just like to race solo with spinnaker, as good crew is hard to find and keep, so the F16 is where I am today. I'm happy. I know you are happy with the F18, no problem. I was just saying I think the F18 "comes alive" in more wind than the F16, as it is heavier.

I was just hoping to bust your balls but your papers were in order, damnit! Carry on.

I'm disappointed! Tsk, tsk, tsk!

Then one could go up to one of Roberts ARC/SC 22 or 27..

These should have a "softer ride" than the T..

So, Timbo...

Having spent a lot of time on your Blade, do you feel that if you jumped on a 20 today you'd have to "start from scratch" handling the larger, heavier boat?

Ding's commented that the 18 allows for less "stupid factor" (ie, not releasing rotator downwind) than the 20. Does the same hold for the 16 vs. the 18?

Or, do you tend to overreact on the 20 because you're expecting it to act like the shorter 16?

Having the opportunity to race both platforms, I'm interested in your comments. I still long for another N20, but like you I suffer from lack of time, talent, treasure, crew, and parking space for a 20 footer...

Heck, I couldn't even find crew for the beach resort rental Getaway last week. It's sad, but that will have to be my "training platform" for a while...

If you compare the 16 to an 18 or 20, I should say the bigger the boat, the more forgiving.

If you flip an F18, you would have already flipped the F16 10 seconds earlier.
If you're losing speed because you didn't react quick enough on a shift on the F18, you're lost all of your speed on the F16 (momentum).
I you sheet in on the F18 and feel that you're accelerating, the F16 is already gone!

I went sailing on the F16 with a guy that owns an Infusion. He did the main while I steered. When a gust hit us, he realesed the main about 70 cm (7:1), after the gust he pulled that 70cm back on in 1 time. At that moment we had to step back at least 20cm from our original position not to pitchpole upwind because of the forward force generated! The acceleration of an F16 can't be compared to any other cat I have sailed so far. (and so said he).

Gill

I said the opposite. The 20 is more stupid friendly than the 18. As for the rotator... I didn't release it going downwind on the 20 or the Nacra F18 but I always release it on the Infusion.

That is one of the differences between a (true) wingmast and a regular (teardrop shape) mast.

Wouter

Yes, that's what I meant.

The question remains: stepping back to a big boat after working on a small boat, are you more likely to over-react (sheet out on a puff, drive down off the wind, etc) and therefore not be as quick on the big boat as someone who did not sail the small boat?

No, you are going to sail the big boat better in my opinion.

Agreed.

When I sailed A Tornado this summer, it just felt easier as everything happens more slowly and there was more room for error.

We never had problems down wind as the wind was never more than 20kts; but it was so much easier going up in size!

Jay, didn't mean to ignor your question, I was in Bombay without my lap-top so I completely missed this until today. I agree with what Gilo, Rolf, Scooby and the others have said above.

Sailing the F16 is more demanding, especially if you do it solo, than the Inter 20, because every move you make effects the boat trim more, fore-aft, and side to side. Downwind in a blow you really have to be carefull and quick. The steering is very quick, you can throw yourself off the boat in a gybe!

It will make you a better sailor but you will have to -work at it- more too. And the wing mast is a whole new ball game you will have to learn. But I like a challenge and it is very satisfying when you get it right.

Why don't you buy Terry's boat and come up to Wildcat this weekend, it would be a great place to get aquainted with the boat, and you don't need crew. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

But to answer your question, I think if I got back on an Inter 20 today, I'd be better than I was when I left it, not worse.