Second is the New First
“They have a different gear than the rest of us. They are good at swapping modes.” – Carson Crane, USA34. Crane’s understated assessment of Tita/Banti (ITA) after the Italian’s 2, 1, 1 finishes expresses the collective truth that this team is not letting up at this European Championship. So let’s talk about today’s standouts! Sinem […]
Nacra Re-Sets as Teams Explore Full Flight
A 12th at the Tokyo Olympics was not a dream result for Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson (NZL). Yes, Dawson was nursing a massive injury. But the shift to a fully foiling Nacra 17 in 2022 interestingly fit beautifully into their skills sets from other full flight campaigns (SailGP, Moth, Flying Phantom). And today, at […]
Kiwis and Germans Stretch Legs, Inch Up Ladder
There must have been something “right” about Vittorio Bissaro’s frame of mind this morning as he crouched in the gravel boat park while meticulously taping the inspection port on one of his Nacra 17 hulls. He and Maelle Frascari are world champs in the class but have been leaving double digits on the the table […]
Not-Quite-Survival for Nacra Fleet Opens Door for New Campaigners
Finish driver Sinem Kirby shook her head as she stretched her lifejacket over her head, standing in a puddle of fresh water. The day was a blur for her and the 32 Nacra sailors who all had to manage with 30-plus knot gusts and massive shifts to foil above the waves on the first day […]
Nacra 17 has been selected for the 2028 LA Olympics!
World Sailing has selected the Nacra 17, along with Kitesurfing and the 470, for inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics. These four Events add to the remaining slate of 6 Events previously announced. World Sailing regulation requires some Events and Equipment to be reviewed every four-year cycle. In this instance, the World Sailing Council voted […]
Game on at French Olympic Week
Hyères, France – Nacra 17, learning to flySometimes the performance gains have been immediately more obvious. There is a new craft in the Nacra 17 – in all senses. After a 2016 Olympic debut, in 2017, the Morrelli & Melvin-designed Nacra 17 evolved: the sporty catamaran abandoned its curved daggerboards for Z foils, and now […]
The Paris 2024 Quad Begins – New Teams, Old Team, New Sails, Foiling On
The Path to Paris is one year shorter than normal, but like normal, Princessa Sophia (Palma regatta) kicks off the unofficial start of the action. All of the nacra17, nacra17FX, and Nacra 17 Gold Medalists are returning to defend their titles, but behind them, there are quite a few new and old teams they will […]
Rudder System Upgrades to Debut in Palma
Fresh for Paris 2024, the Nacra 17 fleet will debut two upgrades to the rudder system in Palma 2022. Following the Tokyo Olympics, an updated elevator and an adjustable rudder rake system were approved by class membership for onward use. Heading toward Palma 2022, teams competing will now be using these updated systems. The updated […]
Brits Double World Champs, While Young Italians Join Party
John Gimson and Anna Burnet (GBR) have won the 2021 Nacra 17 World Championship, the British successfully defending the title they won in Australia back in early 2020. They started the day in the lead, with Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer (GER) sitting a few points behind and ended up confidently foiling down the last […]
British Leapfrog Young Italians to Take Lead
Mussana, OMAN – John Gimson and Anna Burnet foiled into the lead of the Nacra 17 World Championships with an impressively composed display of high-speed tactics and strategy. Scores of 5,1,2 could so easily have been a string of bullets, but the British results were still the best of the fleet in light to medium, […]
