Hi, I bought a Nacra 5.0 for my daughter for Christmas and I'm fixing it up now. Would like to know how tight do you run the rig? What kind of Forestay tension? Any other tips on Rake and what holes to run the sidestays? I used to have a N 5.7, N 5.2 and we had a F-27 for 11 years. Thanks

You're prob way beyond this, but here is the link to Nacra's older assembly instructions.

All the 5.0 owners are hibernating for the winter...

I always liked a fairly loose rig (helped mast rotation downwind and a fair amount of rake (helped pointing) on my 5.0. Which specific holes is hard to translate since I replaced my standing rigging every couple years and each set was a little different.

I agree with Eric on the mast rake. I have recently changed to a Nacra 5.0 and just this weekend experimented with mast rake. My old Mystere 5.0XL was a very similar 16 foot skeg boat and demanded that the mast be nearly vertical. When I tried this on the Nacra it was a disaster. It wouldn't point and was pitchy as hell. I dropped back 2 holes on the sidestays and a miracle occured! I can point great and no pitch tendancies (so far), all with neutral helm. I'm going even back further next time. Send me a PM and we can discuss a rake measurement scheme.

As mentioned in a recent Nacra 5.7 discussion, the need to keep your weight way forward when pointing can't be overemphisized, one foot on the forward beam, one on the chain plate rivets (solo, of course). If you work it hard you can point with the big dogs.

Dave, does that mean i am now a "Big Dog"?

You sure you want to go there, Andrew?

You SHOULD be a big dog, sailing that fabulously detailed Mystere 5.5 with spinnaker. Remember, I sail a 29 year old Nacra 5.0 with the original Dacron pinhead main. On Sunday you started with a sizable lead from the beach but after 75 minutes I was first to Island 9, about 7 minutes ahead of you and 2 ahead of Steve. Portsmouth handicap says you owe me 12.6 minutes per hour upwind (no spin correction). Wazzup with that? The little dog bites!

On the 90 minute downwind leg out in the Gulf I was less than 1 minutes behind and you have a spin. You should have beaten me by 16+ minutes. Like a Chihuahua, nipping at your heals!

Raking back my mast was VERY good for me, I guess. Maybe it's because I'm an old fat guy and your youthful zeal distracts you.

Let's do that again soon. Sunday was yet another excellent Florida sailing day. The water got back up to 70, the air was 75 and the wind piped up to 15 all afternoon (December!). Our stop on Island 9 (or was it 8?) reminded me that we live in a postcard here. I'm still laughing about Steve's Budweiser compass. "Wind outta the south, fer sure". When I die and go to heaven I hope it's as nice as here.

yeah, but with more chicks.

where will you be sailing your 5.0?
I think I have 3 holes showing on the forestay tang and 2 holes to bottom out for the shrouds, but as mentioned that is going to depend on how long your forestay/shrouds were cut. Also agree that you want some rake, not as extreme as you'll see on the H16 though. I keep the diamond tension firmer than the method suggested in the assembly manual too.

oh.... its like that huh? i will be nice and just say...

I admit you beat me and steve to island 9 but got stuck in shallows 2 times... once at island 1 and once behind isle 8. your skeg allow you to take a better line in lowtide

downwind, I stayed back for you in the gulf (you asked us to keep an eye out incase you capsized)... when we got close to hurricane pass i took off the breaks and heated it up. thats how i gained 30 boat lengths on you.

i was going to try to fly the spin over the shallows but the line was to hot to try in shallows, so i had to turn around and go back out to the channel.

lastly... i sailed sunday (yesterday) it was not 75 degrees... it was 59... It was blowing a chilly 20-25. it wasn't a chamber of commerce sailing day at all...

and in conclusion.... take your portsmouth numbers and shove them up you.... spin chute!!!! oh yea, put on your spin chute and fly that thang!! Now that the water is cold and the wind is blowing is the right time to learn how not to capsize!

see ya next weekend

So December is good wind in FL? Best month(s) for beachcat winds in the Keys? I'd like to visit every winter to sail, and would love to hear reccomendations on the preferred window for reliable 15+ kts. Thanks!

Dave

Andrew could offer insight here as he sails a lot these days. Summer (Memorial Day to October) is light air followed by a huge thunderstorm. Fall (October to December) is really nice but variable temp. Winter (January) can be cold (50s) but still usually has wind. Spring, February to June 1, is IMO the best season and typically very reliable. Actually, it's all good.

The real trick is to only pretend to work so you can sail as often as Andrew does. That way bad air days don't get you down. He said 59 degrees and blowing 25 on Sunday but he sailed anyway. A bad day sailing is better than a good day at work.

Pretend to work? i bring a valuable service and professionalism to my employer (as far as he knows) that is unmatched! (why do you think they put up with my constant chatter about sailing.... and wind?). If i wasn't such a valuable employee and asset... i would be "downsized". It surely isn't my sparkling personality that keeps me employed!

i work 50 hours a week.... i can't help it if (in my mind) i am on the gulf, sipping rum runners, on my beachcat, being fanned by 4 beautiful women... and being fed grapes....

That being said... I have no idea what the water or wind is like in the Keys but I have sailed almost every weekend for the past 3 years and the fall has proven to be very good air, water temp and air temp.... here in the clearwater fl area

Any N 5.0 sailors using a barberhauler?

My N5.0 has a huge jib, at least it has a long foot. So far it seems to belly out fine downwind without a barberhauler but I have not crawled under and watched the slot while off the wind. There is no gear nor holes in the beam indicating where some previous owner felt they needed a barberhauler.

Anybody got one on their boat? How about on the Nacra 5.7?