Described as a ‘wild beast,’ the Nacra 17 is a pioneering boat class that continues to captivate the world of sailing. It will be a key feature at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the mixed multi-hull event. Let’s delve into the basics of Nacra 17 racing.
What is Nacra 17?
A Nacra is a type of catamaran, a boat with two parallel hulls of equal size. The Nacra 17 is so named because it is approximately 17 feet long. It made history by becoming the first-ever mixed sailing discipline at the Olympics, debuting at Rio 2016. Each Nacra 17 is crewed by one man and one woman.
How Does Nacra 17 Work?
Inspired by the performance of America’s Cup boats, the Nacra 17 made its Olympic debut at Rio 2016. Initially equipped with curved daggerboards, the class evolved for Tokyo 2020 and beyond, adopting hydrofoils to become a fully foiling racing machine. These hydrofoils lift the Nacra 17 above the water, making it one of the most visually striking boat classes at the Paris 2024 regatta.
Previous Olympic Medalists in Nacra 17
- Tokyo 2020:
- Gold: Ruggero Tita, Caterina Banti (Italy)
- Silver: John Gimson, Anna Burnet (Great Britain)
- Bronze: Paul Kohlhoff, Alica Stuhlemmer (Germany)
- Rio 2016:
- Gold: Santiago Lange, Cecilia Carranza Saroli (Argentina)
- Silver: Jason Waterhouse, Lisa Darmanin (Australia)
- Bronze: Thomas Zajac, Tanja Frank (Austria)
Top Athletes in Nacra 17
Training partners and rivals, Italy’s Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti, and Great Britain’s John Gimson and Anna Burnet, have been dominant forces in the Nacra 17 class. After claiming gold and silver at Tokyo 2020, they continued their rivalry by occupying the top two positions at the 2023 and 2024 World Championships, with Tita and Banti winning gold on both occasions. Gimson and Burnet secured gold at the 2021 World Championships and the 2023 European Championships, setting the stage for another close contest in Marseille.
Nacra 17 Event Schedule at Paris 2024
The Nacra 17 competition at Paris 2024 will commence on Saturday, August 3, and conclude on Wednesday, August 7.
Mixed Multihull: Nacra 17 Foiling
The Nacra 17 is a high-performance catamaran, both thrilling to sail and to watch. It became the first mixed sailing discipline in the Olympic program in 2016. The Nacra 17 is a one-design class, meaning all competitors use identical equipment manufactured to strict specifications. For Tokyo 2020 and beyond, it was converted to a foiling design, enhancing its speed and agility.
Designed by Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin in 2011, the Nacra 17 meets the criteria set by World Sailing for the Olympic multihull introduced for Rio 2016. Measuring around 17 feet in length, the Nacra 17 features hydrofoil daggerboards and winglets on the rudders. It is lightweight and designed for minimal drag and maximum stability, making it an agile yet challenging boat to sail. When fully foiling, a fleet of Nacra 17s soaring above the water provides a breathtaking spectacle.
Memorable Moments
At Rio 2016, the Nacra 17 made its Olympic debut with Santiago Lange and Cecilia Carranza Saroli of Argentina winning gold by a single point. Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin of Australia, and Thomas Zajac and Tanja Frank of Austria, finished level on points, but the Australians took silver based on the tiebreaker.
For Tokyo 2020, only five of these six sailors returned to compete for the podium, with Tanja Frank transitioning to the 49erFX class, leaving Thomas Zajac to compete with Barbara Matz.
The Nacra 17 class continues to be a dynamic and exciting part of Olympic sailing, promising high-speed action and close competition at Paris 2024.
