[quote=jcasto1]I have a NACRA 5.7, previously had a 5.2, 5.0. 5.8 & I still have a 5.5 uni / with sloop rigging. Have also raced on NACRA 20s. I love the 5.7, it is a great boat, big sail plan, but easily de-powered, and can be single-handed. As the poster NACRAMAN57 demonstrated with his picture, the sheer bows allow you agressively drive the boat at speed, without pitchpoling.
Another really interesting thing about the "ride" : the other older NACRAs have this rounded, flat bottom shape which kind of slaps the water as you move along, across the waves. with the 5.7 sharper hull shape, the skegs, the 5.7 ride is much more springy - it's kind of fells like you're cushioned.
For racing N5.0 & N5.7, the key to pointing these boardless boats is to keep the nose down. It's actually easier in the 5.0 because the shorter hulls allow the rudder to stay in the water at more bow-down angle. I find with the 5.7 especially when singlehanding I can stall the rudder when I put the nose down, not so much with crew.
All the 5.7 are old now, hard to find one good condition, although they make a 570. I think the 570 sail is less race-ready, and 570 jib is smaller than old 5.7 jib.
If the 5.7 mainsail material is still in decent shape, work a lot on the battens (taper for bend) and upgrade the downhaul system, you can get good performance out of the old sails. If downhaul is over 8:1, you may need to change out the main halyard system to the newer locking style, and may need to reinforce the head of the mainsail.
Also, you'll want a mainsail clew traveler for off-wind sailing.
Jim Casto
Austin TX
River Travis (pray for rain so we can have Lake Travis back again)
NACRA 5.7 "wind over water"
NACRA 5,.5 uni "Two Hot"[/quote]
