Nacra F18 Infusion
Development
DesignerMorrelli & Melvin, Vink, Larsen, Young
LocationNetherlands
United States
Year2007
BrandNacra Sailing
Builder(s)[
RoleOne-design racer
NameNacra F18 Infusion
Boat
Crew2
Displacement397 lb (180 kg)
TrapezeTwin
Hull
TypeCatamaran
Constructionvinylester fibreglass foam sandwich
LOA18.11 ft (5.52 m)
Beam8.53 ft (2.60 m)
Hull appendages
Keel/board typetwin daggerboards
Rudder(s)twin transom-mounted rudders
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
Sails
SailplanFractional rigged sloop
Mainsail area183 sq ft (17.0 m2)
Jib/genoa area46 sq ft (4.3 m2)
Spinnaker area226 sq ft (21.0 m2)
Total sail area229 sq ft (21.3 m2)
Racing
Class associationFormula 18
← Nacra Inter 18

The Nacra F18 Infusion was announced in 2006 and launched in January 2007 as a One Design catamaran conforming to the Formula 18 class rules. It quickly developed into a class in its own right.

The principle designer was Morrelli & Melvin but also included significant input from Peter Vink (Performance Sails) and Gunnar Larsen (Nacra).[1]

The design takes its name from the vacuum infusion process used in its hull construction.[2][3]

The Nacra F18 Infusion has been a recognized World Sailing as an international competition class since November 2010.[4]

The Nacra F18 Infusion design was later developed into the F18 Evolution and the NACRA F20 Carbon.[5][6]

Design

The Nacra F18 Infusion is a racing sailboat, built in accordance with the Formula 18 Class Rules and its own One Design construction manual. These rules dictate it is a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars. The boat is a sandwich construction with fibreglass skins made using vinylester resin over a foam core. The Mk3 version uses epoxy resin rather than vinylester resin which due to revised Formula 18 class rules[7] permitting it to use.

Variants

The Nacra infusion is the third generation of Nacra Formula 18 it started in 1996 with the launch of the Nacra Inter 18 designed by Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin,[8] this was followed in 2001 by the Nacra Inter 18 designed by Alain Comyn.[8]

Nacra F18 Infusion Mk1
Announced in 2006 the design was launch with production beginning in 2007. [2][3][8]
Nacra F18 Infusion Mk2
Launched in 2011 the boat was upgraded with new foils and a number of other updates.[9][10]
Nacra F18 Infusion Mk2.5
Launched in 2014 the main update was a complete new sail design. But the rudder system was also significantly updates together with other small improvements.[11]
Nacra F18 Infusion Mk3
Launched in 2018 with epoxy construction and a number of upgrades.[12][13]
Nacra F18 Infusion Mk3 with FCS (Flight Control System)
Launched in 2018 the FCS option was also made available alongside the standard boat this was updated daggerboard cases and rudder fixing to allow the installation of optional hydrofoils. These take the boat out of class but like the Nacra 20 FCS a fully foiling design. They utilise an L-shaped hydrofoil rudders and Z-shaped carbon fibre daggerboards.[14]
With the introduction of the Evolution in 2019 the Infusion Mk3 made the modification standard in 2021.[12]
Nacra F18 Evolution
This model announced in 2019[15] and is a new design fitted out only for the Formula 18 class. The biggest change is the new hull design incorporates reverse raked stems, horizontal chines and a revised longitudinal connecting beam design and deck sweeping mainsail option.[5] It won the Formula 18 World Championship at its second attempt finishing in the top 10 in 2021 and then winning the 2022.[16][15]

Operational history

The Nacra infusion has won the Formula 18 World Championships five times 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015.[17] In addition the class has held a One Design World Championships.

Year Gold Silver BronzeRef.
2011 NED3
 Coen de Koning (NED)
 Thijs Visser (NED)		 NED1933
 Gunnar Larsen (NED)
 Sam Frank (sailing) (NED)		 AUS1978
 Adam Beattie (AUS)
 Jamie Leitner (AUS)		 [18][19]
2012  Gunnar Larsen (NED)
 Sam Frank (NED)		  Coen de Koning (NED)
 Thijs Visser (NED)		  Jorden Veenman (NED)
 Frank De Waard (NED)		 [20][21]
2013 AUS1668
 Adam Beattie (AUS)
 Jamie Leitner (AUS)		 AUS26
 Mick Guinea (AUS)
 Viv Haydon (AUS)		 AUS1646
 Warren Guinea (AUS)
 Aaron Linton (AUS)		 [22][23]
2015 1884
 Bastiaan Tentij (NED)
 Max van Pinxten (NED)		 GER211
 Jurgen Kerstens (GER)
 Tina Vercouteren (GER)		 NED5
 Tony Mels (NED)
 Claske Boschma (NED)		 [24][25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Nacra Works: Interview with Gunnar Larsen & Peter Vink - Catamaran Racing , News & Design". 12 March 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Nacra F18 – Nacra Sailing".
  3. 1 2 "Nacra F18 Infusion Sailboat specifications". Boat-Specs.com. 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  4. ↑ World Sailing (2020). "Nacra F18 Infusion". sailing.org. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  5. 1 2 Nacra Sailing (2019). "Nacra F18 Evolution". nacrasailing.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  6. ↑ Nacra Sailing (2019). "Nacra F20 Carbon". nacrasailing.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  7. ↑ https://www.f18-international.org/f18-class-welcomes-epoxy-as-class-legal/
  8. 1 2 3 Mark Evans. "Nacra Infusion (Mk1) Boat Test" (PDF). Yacht & Yachting Magazine (UK). {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. ↑ "F18 Infusion MK2".
  10. ↑ "F18: Nacra Infusion MKII - Catamaran Racing , News & Design". 16 February 2011.
  11. ↑ "Manufacturer Website explaining the 2014 updates". Archived from the original on 25 December 2013.
  12. 1 2 Nacra 18 Infusion MKIII Launch. Nacra Sailing. 23 February 2018.
  13. ↑ "Nacra launches the Infusion MKIII: Epoxy & Convertible".
  14. ↑ "Nacra F18 – Nacra Sailing".
  15. 1 2 "New F18 Evolution presented by Nacra Sailing". 29 September 2019.
  16. ↑ "F18 Worlds 2022: Ravi Parent & Severin Gramm crowned World Champs - Catamaran Racing , News & Design". 16 October 2022.
  17. ↑ "New Nacra F18 "Evolution": Q&A with Bob Hensen & Fer van West - Catamaran Racing , News & Design". 21 October 2019.
  18. ↑ "2011 Nacra Championship Event Webiste". Archived from the original on 11 November 2011.
  19. ↑ "Nacra Infusion Worlds at Texel, Holland - Overall".
  20. ↑ "Nacra 2012 World Results". mondriaanict.nl. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012.
  21. ↑ "Nacra 2012 Infusion Worlds Overall Race Repot".
  22. ↑ "Results 2013". southportyachtclub.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014.
  23. ↑ "Adam Beatie and Jamie Leitner emerge Nacra Infusion World Champs".
  24. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20151114080627/https://hellecat.nl/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/WKNacra1.htm
  25. ↑ https://www.catsailingnews.com/2015/08/nacra-global-challenge-infusion-worlds.html
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