f18 catamaran class rules

Published on September 23rd, 2019 | by Editor

Formula 18 Class: Evolve or Die

Published on September 23rd, 2019 by Editor -->

The success of one design racing rests largely on critical mass. There may be a lot of boats of a type, but if they are not in close proximity, convenient one design racing can’t occur. And if it isn’t convenient, it won’t thrive.

But what if different boat types, with similar characteristics, could come together and race on equal terms? The Formula 18 Class had that objective when the parameters were developed in 1993 to offer popular, exciting, safe, and fair racing in 18-foot catamarans.

The class’ further objective was to keep development under control, keeping it a non-foiler, and maintaining a good balance between cost and performance. By being open to any manufacturer, the competition keeps costs to sailors to a minimum… right?

While right in general, any class organization that has some degree of “openness” becomes open to efforts that try to build a better mousetrap, err, 18-foot catamaran. And once that happens, the effort to offer a level playing field tilts toward those spending money for the better boat.

This all came to mind with the pending launch of the newly developed Nacra F18 Evolution, which according to Nacra Sailing, hopes to improve on their previous boat – the Nacra F18 Infusion – to be the best all-around performing F18, over the full range of sailing conditions for every sailor.

Why do it otherwise, right? When there were no Nacras in the top 20 at the 2019 F18 Worlds , and the Exploder Scorpion dominated with 8 boats in the top 12, it’s time to evolve or die.

Here’s the background on this new boat:

The design program of the Nacra F18 Evolution started at the 2018 F18 World Championship in Sarasota, USA. Morrelli & Melvin Naval Architects Ferdinand van West (2 time F18 World Champion) and Pete Melvin (Olympic sailor) teamed up to sail the Nacra F18 Infusion.

With Nacra Sailing owner and technical director Peter Vink’s coaching, the duo finished their first event in 6th place. Inspired by this experience, they brought back a wealth of data from the event which they applied directly to the drawing board. This is how Nacra Sailing teamed up again with their long-time development partner Morrelli & Melvin to set its goals in this ambitious project. These parties have a long history together, having done many successful projects such as the Nacra F18 Infusion which was launched in 2006.

This relationship also includes the development of the Olympic Nacra 17 which has changed the face of sailing by becoming the first Olympic sailing class to introduce hydrofoiling.

The hydrodynamic characteristics of the Nacra F18 Evolution’s hull shape are completely revised and benefit from the latest design tools used by America’s Cup teams, analyzing the performance of dozens of hull shape iterations in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations.

Since their involvement in the last three America’s Cups, Morrelli & Melvin have invested in using NUMECA’s FINE/Marine CFD software for design optimization. Utilizing high performance computing resources and advanced performance prediction simulators to add fidelity to race model analysis.

Most notable, the Nacra F18 Evolution’s hull shape design, has an aggressively styled raked wave-piercing bow with a horizontal hull chine running back into the transom.

This elegant solution cleverly distributes the volume and contour curvatures desired for each dynamic condition and delivers a unique compromise for both sailing upwind and downwind at different speeds. The optimized foredeck in front of the main beam and embedded beams into the hull add extra sleekness to this design.

There was a careful focus on the platform configuration, which features an updated longitudinal beam position to optimize the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic balance between the sailplan and the appendages. This has been further enhanced by a new high aspect ratio rudder design, refining wetted area, and updates to the hydrofoil sectional shape to the latest developments.

Close collaboration with the aerodynamic sail design of Performance Sails has ensured an optimized sailplan which features the regatta proven deck sweeper mainsail and an optimized jib design tailored to the new mainsail.

The Nacra F18 Evolution will make its F18 Worlds debut at the 2020 Formula 18 World Championship in Formia, Italy, and is available for order with first deliveries starting in February 2020.

Tags: F18 , F18 Worlds , Formula 18 , Formula 18 World Championship , Nacra Sailing

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Formula 18 (F18)

Class contact information.

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Class Email

Class Website

One-Design Class Type: Multihull

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both

Approximately how many class members do you have? 90

Photo Credit:St Bart Cata Cup 2018 Round the Weather Mark

Photo Credit: St Bart Cata Cup 2018 Start

Photo Credit: St Bart Cata Cup 2018

About Formula 18 (F18)

The F18 class aims to provide fair boat for boat racing without handicaps on catamarans from various manufacturers and different designs within a “box” formula rule and for crews of various weights. Competition between boat manufacturers and sail makers keep costs very competitive and the competition is very close. Racing with upwind speeds of 11-13 knots and downwind speeds of 18-20 kts makes the racing very exciting. Allowing mixed and all female teams to compete on an equal basis fleets makes entering the class more accessible for every sailor. The Formula 18 class keeps offering popular, exciting, safe and fair racing, and also keeps on growing and evolving. The boat was designed for both distance “raid” racing and standard around the buoy multiple race events. There are major continental and world championships annually often with 100 to 160 catamarans entered.

Boats Produced: 500

Class boat builder(s):

Cirrus (France), Falcon (USA), Goodall (Australia), Nacra (Netherlands), Scorpion (Poland), Windrush (Australia)

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 200

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

Arizona – Phoenix; California – Long Beach, San Diego, Santa Cruz, San Francisco; Florida – Clearwater, Sarasota, Key Largo; Hawaii – Oahu; Maryland; Massachusetts – Boston, Michigan; Rhode Island – Newport, Utah – Salt Lake City, Wisconsin, Washington – Seattle;

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  2

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  300-380 lbs; minimum combined crew weight 330 lbs (150 kg) otherwise carry 1/2 pound lead for each pound underweight

Boat Designed in  1995

Length (feet/inches): 18′

Beam: 8’5″

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 396 lbs (180 kg) minimum required weight with sails

Draft: Approximately 5 ft but varies by type of F18. Boat has two daggerboards which can be raised when in shallow water.

Mast Height: 30′

Back to One-Design Central

Copyright ©2018-2024 United States Sailing Association. All rights reserved. US Sailing is a 501(c)3 organization. Website designed & developed by Design Principles, Inc. -->

Setting records for years

The world’s leading high-performance catamaran. The most successful F18 catamaran. A true blast to sail.

The Nacra F18 range  has been dominating the racing circuit for decades. With this latest iteration of the record breaking F18 Infusion , the MKIII , we’ve turned it up a notch. The Infusion MKIII design is suitable for an incredibly wide range of weather conditions, making competitive catamaran sailing an accessible treat for both experienced as well as new sailors. And since 2021 the MKIII comes with an open multi-functional centerboard, designed to turn a best-in-class F18 into a fully foiling monster in less than 30 minutes 1 .

Usage Competitive racing Foiling Touring

Crew 2  Sailors

1 – PLEASE NOTE:  The F18 is one of our finest class legal racers. However, its foiling version is not yet approved for the official Formula 18 Class fleet. To accommodate sailors, the Foiling Package  comes with a conversion kit for easy conversion back to class legal.

THE BENCHMARK OF BOX RULES RACING

The Nacra F18 Infusion is a real racer, the hull volume is larger than other F18’s, which means higher speeds and rapid and precise boat handling. The wave piercing technology reduces drag and improves speed in all conditions. Whether you’re driving in big seas and big winds or gliding on a flat lake, the Infusion is a winner. In contrast to other designs, the Nacra Infusion MKIII stabilizes herself at high speed due to dynamic lift, hence reducing pitching to low levels yielding a far more consistent airflow over the sails, leading to those higher speeds.  When you

are an   MKIII  owner, you  don’t need to add anything, it’s all there. The fully battened jib, the self-tacking jib rail, the large spinnaker chute and the Harken™ Cunningham downhaul system which enables total mainsail control. Get high upwind with the high aspect daggerboards, responsive and positive rudders, a tightened trampoline from all four sides giving a firmer, drier, cleaner spacious platform. The sophistication of Performance Sails and the wind mast shape complement each other perfectly to allow you to improve your results.

This boat is a real winner, it became World Champion in 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the F18 class. In 2019, Nacra Sailing released the Infusion’s successor – the Nacra F18 Evolution .

The fully battened jib, the self tacking jib rail, the large spinnaker chute, the Harken ®   Cunningham downhaul system enables total mainsail control, ask your dealer for the options. The high aspect daggerboards get you high upwind, the rudders are responsive and positive, trampoline is tightened from all four sides giving a firmer, drier, cleaner spacious platform. The sophistication of  Performance Sails  and the wing mast shape complement each other perfectly to allow you to improve your results.

• Nacra users & Owners Manual
• Nacra F18 Infusion Trimsheet V5
• Nacra 500 / 570 / Blast / I-17 / I-18 / F-18 / I-20 Manuals
• Assembly Manual Nacra 15 / F16 / 17 / F18 / F20
• Nacra F18 Infusion Test - Yachts&Yachting Mag
• Nacra F18 Infusion Front Crossbar (w/ self-tacking rails)
• Nacra F18 Infusion Front Crossbar
• Nacra F18 Infusion Rear Crossbar
• Nacra F18 Infusion Spinnaker Pole
• Nacra F18 Infusion Tillerbar

Customize away

You can customize your Nacra F18 Infusion with multiple upgrades and additions to make your catamaran truly yours.

Ready to start flying?

ON SELECTED MODELS

All models outfitted with an Foiling Package ( FCS or   Flight Control System for short ) are ready for full foiling – during your sail, specialized hydrodynamic daggerboards combined with upwards pressure make you get a controlled ‘flight’, meaning your whole boat will be above the water, rather than in it. Make alterations on the water during your flight to find the groove you are looking for and fly over water to leave others behind.

These so-called  Foil sets are designed to fly in a wide range of weather conditions, to make competitive catamaran sailing accessible to even more sailors, and are built to meet the highest safety standards. A real treat for the more, or a little less, experienced sailors.

Using the best possible manufacturing techniques available, we’ve obtained maximum strength with minimum weight using autoclave technology, curing the pre-impregnated carbon/epoxy at 120 degrees Celsius at an atmospheric pressure of 6 bar. It will put you miles ahead of any fleet in terms of performance and joy.

International Formula 18 Class Association

Discover our entire range of catamarans

Shop all your spare parts and accessories directly from our online store.

Shopping for your business?

Do you order for a sailing school or club, a resort, or do you want to become a Nacra Certified Dealer? Contact Nacra Sailing to apply.

© Nacra Sailing INT. 2024

F18 UK Class Association

Welcome Welcome to the website of the UK’s premier dinghy racing catamaran, the Formula18. You will be able to find all the information you need to join the class.

Class Membership Membership of the Formula18 catamaran association provides access to arguably the highest level of multihull racing in the UK and world.

Events With events organised in the UK and an established, international class organisation, there are many events to choose from. Visit the events page for more information.

Check out our the UK F18 Catamaran Sailing Facebook group with over 600 members for discussions, items for sale and events.

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• Registered: Jan 09, 2024
• Last visit: Feb 14, 2024

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