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Nacra 5.5 (18 SQ. METER)

Cat (rotating spar) · Catamaran Twin Dbrd. · 1979–present

Specifications

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cat (rotating spar)
Ratios
SA / displacement
64.7
Hull
Hull type
Catamaran Twin Dbrd.
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1979–present
Designer
Tom Roland, Nacra Design Group
Builder
Performance Catamarans, Inc., NACRA Catamarans

Design & history

The NACRA 5.5 (18 Sq. Meter), also called NACRA 18M2, was designed to maximize length, beam (11'), and sail area under the single-handed 18 Sq. Meter box rule. It was first built with NACRA 5.2 hulls and later updated with full-length 5.5m hulls and a boomless rig in the mid-1980s.

Class · Designed for the single-handed 18 Sq. Meter 'box' rule, which had been recently established at the time.
Notable features
Maximum beam of 11'Boom (gooseneck) attached to forward beam (early version)Boomless rig (later version)Designed for single-handed sailing
Variants
  • NACRA 18M2
  • NACRA 5.5 (non-18SM) - same hulls, less beam, sloop rig
  • Newer NACRA 18sm - updated 5.5m hulls, boomless rig (mid 1980s)
Design

Originally introduced using the standard hulls of the NACRA 5.2; later (circa 1983) updated with a new full-length hull design (18'). Also known as NACRA 18M2.

Production

First version used standard NACRA 5.2 hulls; later (circa 1983) updated with a new full-length hull design. Replaced in the mid-1980s with a newer NACRA 18sm featuring updated 5.5m hulls and a boomless rig.

Curated reference notes

Not yet featured in any indexed video.

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