Nacra is a name which is virtually synonymous with off the beach catamarans.
Its success worldwide with new designs is such that any new Nacra product coming onto the market is bound to create more than the usual interest in new sailing craft.
Such is the case with the new release of the Nacra 430.
With only one new 14ft catamaran being introduced in Australia over the last 20 years, the need was there for a new design with all the modern features that people required in today’s market.
Many 14ft sailors over the years have upgraded to bigger and faster boats, looking for something more than the basic surfcat design of the 1970s.
Nacra set out to design a new 14ft Catamaran that had all of the features.
Simple to sail
Easy to rig
21st century looks
Latest technology in designs
Large storage areas in each hull
Fits into modern day garage
Great turn of speed.
We wanted a boat that would introduce people back to catamaran sailing where it all started many years ago-the 14ft market.
A boat that can be raced one day then socially sailed with 3 or more friends the next day.
One of the first buyers of the new boat.
Took delivery of his boat on Thursday, raced over the Easter weekend for 3 days and did really well straight out of the box.
Then the next day destination sailed across the lake to have a picnic lunch with 4 other people. Using the storage in the hull to store all of this.
That is what sailing was meant to be.
Since its release just over 2 months ago the Nacra 430 has been winning many events and races that it enters in.
It is arguably the fastest 14ft production catamaran available already.
It is also competing with many top 16ft boats as well.
It recently won the Catamaran division at Lake Tinaroo over the May Day weekend.
Even managing to place a 2nd and 3rd on yardstick against the highly competive F-18 class.
See full results
Design
The boat is made in two vertical seams this allows it to have more volume down low where it is required.
Nacra widen this boat more than normal and placed the main beam in the highest volume area of the hull.
This allowed the front beam to move forward more than normal, this allowed the trampoline area to be much larger.
This was exactly what we were after; the boat can carry 4 people very easy.
The sidestay positioning was moved slightly as well, creating more space for the crew to sit on the deck.
With a larger deck area than normal we required more bulkheads between the beams this then allowed us to utilize this area for large storage in each hull.
This is gained access through large port lids in each hull.
The hulls are made out of sandwich construction and were made to take the loads of spinnaker with further bulkheads being placed in front section.
This is standard on all 430, this will make the boat very stiff and handle the high loads of spinnaker sailing if people choice to add the optional kit.
Non skid tread was placed in the mould along the edges to help with grip while trapezing.
The decks between beams feature non skid patens which help to keep the crew very stable.
The hull design is very unique.
We have been able to incorporate the reverse bow wave piercing formula into a skeg type non daggerboard hull.
The result is a non daggerboard fine entry maximum volume hull.
The skeg design blends with the cutaway bow which maximizes the pointing, tracking and tacking capability of the boat.
The trampoline is a large one piece diagional cut, which can be fitted easily by one person.
There is a large pocket at the front for storing righting line and other equipment.
The rudders are high aspect carbon reinforced and feature a built in adjuster which determines the rake of the rudder.
The rudder system also features Ackerman steering which makes turning more efficient.
A pivmatic system is standard as well which makes for safe beaching and will kick up upon impact of under water objects.
The rear beam is the same as the highly successful NACRA INFUSION and features a built in traveler track, with RCB traveler car fitted as standard.
The front beam has had the well deepened to add to more stiffness in the boat.
The sails are Flex Mylar and feature a large square top mainsail.
With a boomless sailplan making for safer sailing and easier rigging.
The mast is small enough still to be raised by one person and features a captive ball system, which stops the mast from jumping off while raising and lowering.
Other controls are 8-1 downhaul which is lead out to the trapeze.
6-1 ratchet mainsheet.
The jib is non overlapping which makes tacking and gibing very easy.
The Rocket version features a spinnaker kit and Nacra,s midpole snuffer system.
This adds a new dimension to 14ft sailing never seen before in a boat this size.
We wanted a boat that has all the features of an f-18 yet in smaller more manageable size.
This introduces people to the art of spinnaker sailing at a manageable level.
It has been great to see people sailing across the water under spinnaker, knowing that they have never used one before.
Sailing the boat.
The first thing you notice about sailing the boat is the wide trampoline area, it gives you the feeling of sailing a much larger boat.
The boat tacks, gybes very quickly with the help of the deep efficient rudders.
Sailing upwind you will notice that the boat points higher and higher as the wind increases, the boat seems to drift to windward as wind increases, due to the wave piercing design.
The fine entry of the bow slices through any waves or chop with ease, making for a very smooth ride.
Downwind with the spinnaker is when the boat really comes in to its own.
It just accelerates, the boat goes lower and lower as the wind increases and will easily pass much larger boats with ease on this point of sail.
I have been sailing an F-18 for about 7 years before sailing the new NACRA 430 and thought that the boat would be dull compared to F-18s.
But to my surprise I love sailing the new boat, it is really something special to sail.
It feels like you are on a much bigger boat, yet you have all the simplicity of a small catamaran.
Versions
The boat is being sold in 3 versions
1-Clubman-designed to be used as a training boat at a club level.
Features Dacron mainsail only, no traveler and shallow draft rudders.
2-Sports version-Features
Flex Mylar square top mainsail and jib.
RCB traveler and high aspect rudders.
3-Rocket version
Features as above, but with spinnaker and mid pole snuffer system.
The boat features.
We have been more than happy with the interest in the new boat so far, since its launch we have sold 8 boats which has been fantastic considering it is winter and have many more inquiries looking to move to the new boat in the upcoming sailing season.
We are offering specials on the first 10 boats sold at a reduced price.
The boat has been sold into 3 states across Australia and will hopefully see a class at the upcoming Nacra nationals.
The Nacra 430 is ideal for people buying their first boat.
Because it is safe, strong, modern yet very highly competitive if you decide to race it seriously.
The high buoyancy, stability and comfort in the Nacra 430 lends itself to easily sailing with a few friends for a social sail.
Even a Novice sailor will find the 430 forgiving on all points of sail.
The kick up rudders, easy to rig, modern sailplan and lightweight make the Nacra 430 one of the easiest catamarans to manage on the water, launching, retrieving and on the beach.
The 430 comes standard with a 5 year limited warranty, this offers customers piece of mind knowing that their investment is protected.
Full details of the boat can be found at www.nacra.com.au
There is also a video of the boat sailing 3 up easily across a Lake, with its new owner at the helm using spinnaker for one of his first sails.