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 Following the growing success of the Formula 18 fleet all over Europe, Nacra could no
longer rest upon the Nacra 5,8 and 5,5. These two boats had proved over and again their
marine qualities and their serious potential in regattas and long distance races.
The
Formula 18 made its first apparition with the Mattia 18, Dart Hawk and Hobie Cat Tiger.
Following the standardisation of the promising formula 18 handicap, the Nacra team
threw itself into the creation of the International 18 (Inter 18) associating themselves
with the famous multihull architects, Gino Morelli and Pete Melvin.
The Inter 18 was officially presented to the public for the first time during the Paris
boatshow in december 1995.
The objectif was to create a fast, sure, functional and
sea-going catamaran. The introduction of new architectural concepts, inspired by the Swiss
20 footers and the formula 40's, led Nacra to forego the classic look of their previous
cats. |
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 The Inter
18 has fine straight stems which rapidly gain in volume at the approach of the front beam.
Its hulls are symmetrical and canted 4° outward, providing precise hull trim, thus
reducing drag and increasing dagger board and rudder efficiency. The hull bottoms are
quite flat, specially toward the aft, thus favouring the surfing of the boat. The front
beam is situated further forward than on other cats giving the boat extra rigidity and
offering a large, clear trampoline, sparing the crew of playing acrobatics on the bow in
light breezes. The non-slip decks are unsymmetrical with rounded outer edges for greater
comfort while trapezing and trampoline rail integrated into the inner edges.
The platform layout, developped by P. Vink and M. Booth using only Harken hardware,
leaves nothing to chance. All the running rigging : cunningham, mast rotation limiter
(ropes tidied away into the front beam), jib and spinnkaker sheeting points, adjustment of
mainsail outhaul, mast forcer etc have been precicely positioned up front with the
apropriate power ratios. The spinnaker bag is incorporated into the trampoline with two
side zips, making life easier when pulling in the spinnaker on downwind tacks.
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 Nacra was
the first manufacturer to introduce daggerboards on sports cats, so it's no coincidence
that the Inter 18 has long and solid, carbon reinforced dagger boards enabling the boat to
point even further upwind. The dagger boards are sunk into the deck on upwind legs, making
the decks flush, thus avoiding damage to sails and crew and obstacles for sheets. The
blocking system, boards up, is simple and efficient. The refined and elipse formed rudders
provide rare precision steering, making the boat all the more lively.
Like its
predecessors, the Inter 18 is built in California, but the sails are made in Holland by
the renowned regateer and manager of Performance Sails, Peter Vink. The mainsail,
initially in Mylar with a "square head" was modified after the first racing
season as it proved "difficult" to trim in light breezes. The new mainsail,
which today is delivered with the boat, is made of Polyant dacron (tested and adopted on
Tornados), being easier to trim and having longer endurance. The draft is more to the
front of the sail and the square head has been softened to a round topped leechline. The
jib, existing in two dimensions according to crew weight (3,45 m2 or 4,15 m2) has its
sheeting points on the front beam. The assymmetrical spinnaker (also available in two
dimensions : 19 or 21 m2) has also undergone some changes since the coming out of Inter 18
in december 1995. This sail, which is part of the Inter 18 "package", is now cut
with more volume in the top, clearly improving the downwind performances of the boat. The
spinnaker sheeting blocks initially located on the back beam have been repositioned near
to the shrouds making life easier for the crew in navigation. The spinnaker boom, a little
short on the first boats was lengthened during the first six months to the maximum allowed
within the formula 18 handicap. This favoured more efficient gybing and generally allowed
the sail plan to "breathe" better. |
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 Further modifications brought to the boat include a new and fully efficient
rudder system as well as a revision in the gluing concept of the hulls. The hulls of the
first Inter 18's were composed of two half hulls blind glued on their junction. Several of
the first boats had problems on the bows contradicting the quality of construction of its
predecessors (Nacra 5,8 - 5,5 and 6,0). The Inter 18's are now built using the same
construction principles as the other Nacras : 2 half hulls assembled with decks. Their
solidity has become irreproachable without adding extra weight to the boat which is fixed
at a minimum 180 kgs for the formula 18 handicap.
In conclusion, it can be said that the Inter 18 has now reached maturity. What needed
to be reviewed, as for exemple the gluing of the hulls and its "motor", the sail
plan, have been seen to. It is helmed with the "tip of the fingers" and with
extreme precision for a boat of this category (racers will be delighted), amateurs,
however, should be carefull not to lurch or swerve when preparing to hike out with the
stick in their hands ! The Inter 18 is a solid boat as much in its construction as in its
rigging. It offers a large trampoline space and clear lay out enabling the crew to manage
without getting "knotted up" or injuring themselves. This boat loves flat water,
where it can fully demonstrate all its potential, especially on upwind legs, but responds
quickly and easily to changes in sea and wind. It is a competitif boat in races against
its direct rivals, and has proved very successful in European regattas. The encouraging
results of the 97/98 European boatshows confirm the growing position of the Inter 18 on
the Formula 18 market. |
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