A friend and I were having a discussion about which boat would win in a boat-for-boat race with a Nacra 20 and an Aussie 18 skiff. We couldn't settle it, so what do you guys think? It looks like I'll be spending next summer at an internship in Australia, so maybe I'll get to see for myself
Trey
N20 314
Layline Rigging
www.velocitysailing.com

NACRA 20 with spinnaker?
Some years back they raced a Tornado with spinnaker against the 18' skiff's on Sydney Harbour and the Tornadoe won. The Tornados with spinnaker have gotten MUCH faster since then and the skiffs are still about the same.

Aussie VYC Yardstick

18 foot skiff - 68
A Class - 71
F-18 - 70
Classic Tornado - 69
Spinnaker Tornado - 65

Don't know where the N20 would fit in but this should give you some idea.

For the infamous Tornado vs. 18footer, ref: John Forbes comments at the bottom of the page.

Portsmouth Numbers (DPN)
A-Class 64.8
F-18 62.6
Classic Tornado 63.8
Spinnaker Tornado 59.0
Nacra 20 59.3

Trey, Learn to use the search function buddy.

I asked this question years ago.

It comes down to sea state. If there are waves of any magnitude, the cat has an advantage.

Reference Stagecoach runaway video.

Ultimate matchup with a N20?

Whats so ultimate about that?

Not thats it not a good boat, but come on, its not exactly cutting edge or "ultimate."

Why not something more current like a M20?
Or a current version of the Hobie Trifoiler?
Or a lightweight carbon version of the Rave?
Or a kite powered boat?
Or a 20ft version of Hydroptere?

Why is it only the French seem to think outside the box when it comes to multihulls? I hate to think that all the really experimental thinking is going on in Europe.

The Tornado seems to be the standard for speed in a 20ft cat, but real daggerboards would make it faster instead of
centerboards - right?

How come we are so scared of hydrofoils, or curved boards or gybing boards or kites instead of spinnakers.

What would be interesting is an Open/Experimental class.

20ft long and anything goes - whos in?

Bill

Bill have you bought your Moth yet? If not, why not?

Moths are interesting, but I need to finish the A cat that is still a pile of parts in the basement. The next project is a DN and then after that I am thinking a foil borne carbon tri.

Bill