Nacra 6.0 Express vs. NA

No

Forgive my naivete... Express??? I have heard this name tossed around only recently. I was wondering if this is a square top main version. As if the 6.0 NA isn't already loaded for bear when it comes to sail area.

Kris,

I have been sailing my Nacra 6.0 Express since I bought it in 1998. My crew and I are heavy at 440# combined, so the more sail area, the better for us. Anyway, my Express has the same Nacra 6.0 platform, but they have added a square top mainsail, genoa (big jib, in fact the wire across the deck for the standard jib blocks is gone and the jib tracks have been mounted out on the trampoline track behind the daggerboards. The boat is rated with a spinnaker as standard sails. Other than that I don't think there is much to add. The boat (in my opinion) loses a little pointing ability with the big jib, and when it blows, obviously the jib starts back winding the main sooner than say the stock sails. As far as the rating, well it was 60.2 in 2001 and was lowered to 59.7 in 2002. (An Inter 20 is 59.2) The boat is a lot of fun and it handles the weight fairly well. But, last month we picked up an ARC22, so that is what we'll be racing now. I am still keeping the Express.

Hope this helps.

Don Cook

Thanks Don,

I was hoping you would pick up on this thread.

In the interrim, Jack Young at Performance Cat gave me the history of the "Express". Before the NA version, a group of yacht brookers and sail manufacturers predominately in Florida did an informal aftermarket 6.0 and called it the Express. The effort was because the American market did not respond well to original, now European, version. Whereas, it was strongly recieved in Europe. The changes you listed concur with Jack's.

After 5 years of lack luster sales, Perfomance Cats developed the NA version and sold more 6.0s in three months than the entire preceeding 5 years in North America.

The Cookie Monster and the other OTHER Kevin Smith on a Supercat?!?!? I feel I've awoken in the land of the Giants!

At least the 22 will look like a 6.0 with you guys on it... get some Nacra stickers on there and nobody will notice.

See your new boat at Lundquist?

John

Yes Big John, it's true. Me and the other Kevin Smith will be on an ARC22. I am not sure if we will have all the parts by the Lundquist Regatta, but we will be there. Maybe on a P19MX with a new snuffer spinnaker that we just added.

Good to hear from you. Good luck with your meeting in California.

See you soon.

Don

Cookie Monster,

Sort of off thread, do you have the big MX jib? If so, how low is the spin pole and how do you support it? I am in the process of putting a spin on my MX.

Thanks,

Shannon,

Yes, we have an MX jib. I think I posted on this earlier. We raised the tack about 12 inches so that we could carry the spinnaker pole up (like it supposed to be). We actually took a slice off the bottom of the jib. The clew location wasn't moved, in fact, we still have the same grommet in the same location. You're right, the pole and the low tack on the MX jib interfere with each other. We really didn't lose much sail area and the one time we have sailed it, it worked just fine. I'd be glad to take a few pictures and send you the next time we take it out. Didn't you buy Randy's P19 "Yo Baby"? Well, the one we have is the one he owned before that one.

Let me know if you want to discuss further, and we'll talk.

Don

What are your impressions of the ARC22? I was curious as to set up time, handling in higher winds etc.

I really can't give you an opinion on the ARC22 at this time since we haven't had the chance to get out on it so far. We are still getting a few of the parts (like a front cross beam) and having sail cut. Ask me again in a month or two. I'll be glad to fill you in on everything.

Don