New Nacras On Test

The Nacra 15 FCS and the Nacra 15 One FCS are new on the foiling scene. We asked world class sailors CHRIS RASHLEY and Chloe Collenette to test them out

- CHRIS RASHLEY

Back in 2016, I conducted the first Nacra 15 test with top crew Hannah Diamond. Since then I have also sailed the Nacra 17 and Nacra 17 FCS. For this test for Yachts & Yachting I would be sailing the newly launched Nacra 15 FCS and also the single-handed Nacra 15 One FCS.

My extensive experience of sailing a boat very similar to the Nacra 15 FCS means that, although I could not sample the new boat’s performance in all weathers on our test day, I have a good understanding of how it is likely to handle in a wide range of conditions.

For the test, I sailed with Chloe Collenette in the relatively flat waters of Portland Harbour. The wind during testing was 12-18 knots. The optimum crew weight of the Nacra 15 FCS is a combined 130kg. I am 68kg and Chloe is 58kg, so our combined weight is 126kg.

TEST FINDINGS

The Nacra 15 FCS performed well upwind, similar to how I remember the original version. This is to be expected because the overall foil area has only increased slightly. With more lift being provided from the rudders and boards, the overall wetted surface when going fast upwind is likely to be similar or even reduced. The lift from the rudders raised the transom and the water exited cleanly away from the rear of the boat better than the original and even better than the Nacra 17.

Conditions for sailing the boat were perfect. However, I feel the Nacra 15 FCS has an inherent lack of pitch stability, which will make sailing it in more choppy or short wave conditions very tricky. Much like the Nacra 17, you will need to be prepared for big stops when the fore and aft helm and crew movement becomes out of time with the boat’s pitch and wave form.