Design and Construction
The Nacra 5.2 is built predominantly of fiberglass, with an emphasis on light weight. Its 350-pound displacement helps keep the platform agile and easy to trailer.
The symmetrical hulls have plumb stems and reverse transoms. Transom-hung fiberglass rudders are controlled by a tiller, while retractable fiberglass daggerboards draw 2.5 feet when lowered and just six inches when retracted for beaching and road transport. Period testers noted that the hulls are wide at the bottom and narrow at the top to provide extra buoyancy. They also reported that this shape supports a low center of effort despite the rig’s high aspect ratio.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The 5.2 is a twin-daggerboard, fractional sloop with a rotating mast and anodized aluminum spars. A typical configuration includes a full-battened mainsail carrying nine battens. On-water shroud-tension adjusters allow the crew to tune the rig afloat.
Together, the daggerboards and rotating wing mast give the boat excellent upwind pointing. The design also emphasizes low wetted surface when flying a hull, responsive handling, and a lively feel. Its planing and surfing potential downwind suits moderate-wind one-design racing.
A Portsmouth Yardstick average of 72.0 puts the Nacra 5.2 firmly in the club-racing conversation. It’s normally sailed by two people, who use trapezes to balance the rig.
Cockpit and Crew
At 17 feet overall with an 8-foot beam, the 5.2 is an American catamaran sailing dinghy built for one or two crew, not for cabin accommodation. There’s no enclosed interior. Instead, this trapeze-equipped dayboat uses the trampoline between the hulls as its working deck. It’s intended for beach launching, club racing, and recreational sailing.
The Verdict
The Nacra 5.2 remains a benchmark entry-level one-design catamaran and the boat that established the Nacra marque. Its lightweight fiberglass hulls, rotating fractional rig, and daggerboards provide the upwind bite and downwind rush associated with classic beach-cat sailing. Retractable boards also make it a practical trailer-sailer.
A production run of 2,600 boats, along with fleets in Australia, Europe, Japan, and the United States by 1994, reflects the design’s broad reach. For a new owner today, it can still offer the camaraderie of vintage-class sailing.
Pros
- Lightweight 350 lb fiberglass construction makes trailering and beach launching easier
- Twin daggerboards and a rotating mast provide excellent upwind pointing
- Full-battened mainsail and on-water shroud adjustment allow rig tuning
- Large one-design fleet history, with vintage racing still active
Cons
- Minimal amenities: this is a pure dayboat with no cabin or creature comforts
- Superseded in the product line by the Nacra 5.5 from 1979 onward
