{"id":74716,"date":"2022-12-16T10:20:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T15:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/?p=74716"},"modified":"2023-05-07T00:03:40","modified_gmt":"2023-05-07T04:03:40","slug":"2023-boat-of-the-year-special-recognition-nacra-500-mk2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/sailboats\/2023-boat-of-the-year-special-recognition-nacra-500-mk2\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Boat of the Year Special Recognition: Nacra 500 MK2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Nacra <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The Nacra 500 can accommodate a wide variety of skills and weights thanks to its high-volume bows and simple controls. <\/span>\n Walter Cooper<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Sailing World Magazine\u2019s annual Boat of the Year tests are conducted in Annapolis, Maryland, following the US Sailboat Show. With independent judges exhaustively inspecting the boats on land and putting them through their paces on the water, this year\u2019s fleet of new performance-sailing boats spanned from small dinghies to high-tech bluewater catamarans. Here\u2019s the best of the best from our <\/em>2023 Boat of the Year nominees<\/em><\/a> \u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retro Redo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Nacra 500 MK2 2023 Special Recognition<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Stated purpose: Entry-level beach-cat sailing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Crew: One to four<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Praise for: Sailing experience, construction quality, value<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Est. price as sailed: $20,000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    The Nacra 500 sailed onto the scene in 1998 as the 16-foot entry-level beach cat to rival the Hobie 16. With a sporty profile and \u00adpowered-up rig, and no daggerboards to fuss with, the otherwise basic catamaran was a hit. Twenty-five years is a long time, however, and rather than reinvent the wheel, Nacra redesigned and reengineered the 500 from its skegs up. While technically a new model with a long list of updates, the judges eventually decided a Boat of the Year award would be a stretch to give a \u201cMark 2\u201d boat. But after sailing it, they also felt it was too perfect to leave out of the running. It deserves special recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s a good reason why the \u00adoriginal 500 was a cult favorite: It was fast, fun and relatively easy to own\u2014a great lake or beach house boat. Hardy Peters, from North Carolina\u2019s East Coast Sailboats, is a lifetime cat guy who sells a lot of recreational beach cats. So, when he says this one is an \u00adexcellent first boat, he knows why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n