The KL 18 was from the original formula 18 which because of the advantages of putting all available sail into one only had a main.

Sailing the 18 was very interesting - if you sailed up wind with only main going about could easily put you in irons and without a jib you had to push the main out so that she would back-up and then get going again by bearing away....and try again. Light wind sailing is where in lies the problem once the wind kicks in you can sail with much more confidence.

Apart from this getting into irons problem the boat was very fast and fun.

The up wind the crew holds the main whilst the helm just steers the boat.

You both work hard and you soon learn to feel the boat and act as one.

Down wind and up goes the asymmetric spinnaker. The speed is quite a shock if you have never sailed an asymmetric. Remember if things get too hairy you bear away unlike tightening up when going upwind. All very easy while things go well just do not let the nose go down. Forget your self and tighten up instead of bearing away and you are over in a very messy way.

It is sad that such a boat has no place in the new F-18 set up.

The KL17 was the defining boat for KL.

Yves Loday had designed quite a number of boats before but with this boat he finally got it absolutely right.

The boat just will not pitch pole. Sit the crew on the front and sail down wind tighten up and see if you can tip it over. The nose goes in the boat slow violently to a near halt then the front lifts and begins to sail again.

Without its kite it sails one on one with a Dart 18. Most people who sail the 17 sail it too far back. Up wind really get the nose in and she will out point the Dart 18 while sailing at the same speed. Down wind she will sail on a broad reach faster than the Dart 18 but tighten up and the Dart lifts a hull earlier and goes faster on the reach. (If you are setting a race course avoid a good reach if you don't want the Dart 18s to win)

The KL17 is designed to use a kite. With the pole on the front you can't point as high as before so the Darts are back passed you. Hence the whole emphasis is put on the down wind leg with the kite up.

You still have to sail two broad-reaches but you really go! You go like a rocket! But down wind sailing is always difficult and the kite adds to that difficulty in that you have to always raise and drop the kite on a dead run. This is slow and you really have to time it well and because you raise and drop the kite on one or other side of the mast you have to ensure that you drop it on the side you want it up on for the next down wind leg. All this gets very cerebral and preplanning your race becomes essential.

.. tests index