Nacra 17 - To foil or not to foil ?

After the 2016 Rio Olympiad, the unanimous conclusion was that the Nacra 17 were hard to control and the boats were poorly built. Already at a 20 kn wind or higher waves, they had to stay ashore, especially annoying for organisers. New in sail racing were also the many injuries, broken bones, knee lesions, ... Nevertheless, the World Sailing Equipment Committee requested the Nacra 17 class to investigate an evolution to full foiling. The concern is now, whether the notoriously fragile boats could endure the higher loads of the foiling blades. Along with a change to the rudder and daggerboard has come a host of structural upgrades which include moving the daggerboard case forward about 4 inches, and a shorter spin pole and gennaker anticipating much higher downwind speeds. First test have been made. Here the video.
The Nacra sailors can vote until October 17, whether the step to foiling should be made or not. World Sailing will decide during the Annual Meeting in November. A report by Sailing-Scuttlebutt with more videos.