Rigging clinic and DRY CHECKOUT - Level 2 Rec.Catamaran (Nacra 580)

When
23 Aug 2025
11:00 - 13:30
Location
JSCA @ Locarno Sailing Fleet.

Registration

Clinic Instructor
To help deliver the clinic.
Clinic Sign up - Experienced Sailor

About the event

This clinic includes Part 1 and Part 2 of the checkout. It is for experienced sailors who want to be cleared to use a new fleet; it is also a great refresher. For those who are doing their first checkout, it will include an orientation to the sailing fleet and club room.

The on-water checkout (Part 3); will require a separate registration. Details of our checkout clinics can be found at Sailing Orientations and Checkout Clinics.

Prerequisites

All checkout participants must know how to sail and preferably have experience on cats or an a similar boat class. It is important that all participants review the online rigging instructions and videos. In particular, know how the hooks on jib and main function and how to release them. (Start your browsing here on the Sailing Docs & Link)

Brief History

The Nacra 580 is an evolution of Nacra’s legendary line of high-performance catamarans. Building on the racing pedigree of models like the iconic 5.8, the 580 was designed as a modern, versatile sport cat that blends speed and accessibility. With influences from both racing and recreational classes and fleets forming around the world, this model stands out for combining Nacra’s performance DNA with real-world usability.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Distinctive Features

Length: 20ft (6.1m)
Beam: 8ft 6in (2.6m) – so you get both stability and raw speed.^[4]^[5]
Weight: 390lb (177kg), making it manageably light (for its size!).^[5]
Hull Volume: Extra forward volume means fewer pitchpoles and more stability, even when really pressing downwind.^[6]^[1]
Kick-Up Centerboards: Far more beach-friendly than fixed daggerboards—just glide in, boards up!
Boomed Main & Sail Plan: Updated for powerful, controllable acceleration, with spinnaker options for full-throttle downwind excitement.^[7]^[2]^[8]^[1]
Spinnaker-Ready: The 580 can be rigged with an asymmetrical spinnaker—unlocking turbocharged performance on every run.^[3]^[8]

Why Sailors Love It

The Nacra 580 delivers a thrilling yet approachable sailing experience, with quick, responsive handling, explosive acceleration, and the ability to perform brilliantly in anything from light breezes to strong winds. It’s equally at home as a family-friendly day-sailer or a competitive race machine, offering room for two or three aboard—perfect for building skills, sharing the ride with friends, or blasting across the water with the whole family. Whether you’re charging around race marks or enjoying a spirited cruise, the 580 feels alive under your feet—fast, stable, and irresistibly fun. As a true hybrid between performance and leisure, it blends the adrenaline rush of competitive sailing with the freedom and comfort of all-day cruising.

Sailing a 580 means grinning ear-to-ear as you carve, accelerate, and leave conventional monohulls—and many other cats—far astern. Its blend of modern design and raw fun makes every outing memorable!

Rigging the 580

You can find detailed rigging instructions in the official Nacra Knowledge Base, including downloadable manuals and setup guides for the Nacra 580 provided directly by the manufacturer. For step-by-step help, visit the [Nacra Knowledge Base Rigging Page].^[9]

If you’re ready to turn wind into excitement and want a taste of what high-performance beach cats are all about, the Nacra 580 is the boat to try—it’s the definition of pure sailing joy!

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Location