Evolutive design
Launched in 2012, the Nacra 17 is the fruit of collaboration by architects Morelli and Melvin for builder Nacra Sailing International. With a length of 5.25 meters and a beam of 2.59 meters, its one-design hulls and arms are made of carbon-epoxy.
Upwind, it has an 18.65m2 sail plan, boosted by a 19.5m2 downwind spinnaker.
A first appearance at the 2016 Olympic Games
The Nacra 17 has been selected as the official Olympic multihull for 2016 in Rio, replacing the Tornado, which saw its last Games in 2008 in Beijing. It's worth noting that there were no catamarans at the London 2012 Olympic Games, which goes to show the level of expectation among racers to race multihulls again at the Olympics.
In 2017, the catamaran in the Nacra range underwent major modifications: it switched from curved daggerboards to C-shaped foils and rudders with load-bearing planes, becoming a fully flying boat. Its construction has also evolved, incorporating partial carbon hulls.
Today's most demanding sport catamaran
It's the only Olympic sailboat that not only sails archimedean, but also flies. Optimum crew weight is between 130 and 140 kg.
According to several trainers, this is currently the most demanding catamaran for its crew. Technical, complex and sensitive to the slightest adjustment, it demands great mastery from its crew.
Like most Olympic boats, the main components of the Nacra 17 are one-design. The crew and technical staff have discretion over the setting of the standing rigging and the incidence of the foils.
A mixed crew
Since its first appearance at the Games, the Nacra 17 has always been tamed by a mixed crew.
In Brazil, it was the duo of Billy Besson and Marie Riou who represented France, finishing in 5th place, a fine performance considering that Billy was suffering from a herniated disc.
In Tokyo 2020, Quentin Delapierre and Manon Audinetended in 8th place.
