I had a NACRA 5.2 when they first came out. It was fast around the marks but a real trip on the body. It had a low boom, head scalper rotation limiter, center beam on the tramp, and wires covered with foam all topped off with a single trap wire. Like I said at the time it ran like a scalded cat. Then out came the SolCat 18 kind of a dumpy boat two trap wires and you owed it like ½ a day in time. Everybody was switching for the portsmith you could stop for lunch and still win if you were a half way decent sailor. I think NACRA bought them then put SolCat to rest…….

In the later models of the 5.2 they cleaned up the deck, moved the mast rotation limiter, and added a second wire. It was a fun boat.

My point is it is relative…………… The Portsmith number is what it is. You can always buy the company.

"you owed it like ½ a day in time"

True True...good numbers + good sailor = trophy
"Wake up, I think we're about to cross the line"

Easy, go onto the SCHRS site and pick up the free ratings calculator, dial in your weights beam etc and bingo you have your rating.

Oddly enough beam has very little input, however if you put beam and sail area up goes the rating exponentially.

Interesting to put a few of the manufacturers boats in with true figures ( like including mast area which one major doesn't ) and see where the ratings go, no wonder you get beaten sometimes on handicap.