I am strongly considering rejoining the cat masses, and it would appear that the F18 is really the only way to go for decent racing. Problem is that we will be heavy. We were a great fit for the N20, but pretty fat for the 18. So, I am shedding some weight to get closer, but it will be difficult to get our weight below 380.
I realize that for the first while, learning to get the boat performing is going to be more important than having the right boat. Regardless, I want to get the boat that would be best for us from the start. I also know that no boat has proven to be significantly better than another overall. But, has any particular design proven to be slightly better for heavyweights?
Protein shakes or a lap band... no more pie either!
But I like pie...
Seriously though, we need to lose another 20 pounds between us, and my crew has about 500 grams extra on him, so it is all up to me. I have already taken 10 off in the last month, and I should be able to get most of the rest off by spring, but it will be pretty much impossible for us to get down to the mythical 360...
I have not seen a Capricorn, but have seen the Infusion. I like how it has so much volume right under my fat butt. Has there been any noticeable difference between the platforms for fatties?
I sailed the Nacra F18 for 2 seasons, the Infusion for 1 season (still sailing it) and the Cap for a week at a championship.
I typically sail between 360lbs and 380lbs, the Nacra F18 is NOT your first choice, it can be a tough ride to make it go fast downhill in a breeze. The Infusion has so much more volume where you need it a blind monkey can sail an Infusion downhill in a breeze. I sailed the Cap light (335 lbs), and I felt the Infusion went downhill with a bit more forgiveness. But, uphill the Cap is a very nice ride.
Again all of this is just an opinion of a big boy team and I could be easily talked off any of the points above except the Nacra F18 thing!
I don't have access to the other F18 models out there so I can't comment on those.
My Capricorn dealer also represents NACRA here in northern Germany, and he mentioned once that the Infusion is the more suitable boat for heavy-weight crews. I have no personal experience though, I love my Capricorn but my crew-weight is exactly 150kg (330 lbs).
The tiger handels weight well and the wildcat can hold it too. I've heard. We race the Tiger at 370 lbs.
I sail an infusion and raced at 385 at Canadian Nationals... we were competitive in everything and usually in the top 5 in the light air on the last day.
I was a little hesitant to race at that weight but the only time I felt it MIGHT have slowed us was downwind... we went from right behind the leaders in 2nd to 4th in one downwind, I really felt they were pulling away a little bit but that just could have been us sailing poorly.
We raced at the same weight as on the N20 and I feel the Infusion handles the weight just as well as the 20 and it really pays to have a fatty on the wire downwind in waves and you don't get that stupid beam slap like the 20
I raced a regatta on the Infusion this year at 440. Never sailed the boat before and have not sailed with the crew I sailed with. All was good up to the point where the wind backed down to 20kts. <img src="<>/cry.gif" alt="cry" title="cry" height="15" width="15" />. A skilled
team
is the most important thing. Weight is not an issue if you not starting well, have poor roundings and general poor boat handling.