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Catamaran

Dart 18

dinghy

The catamaran that redefined simple. No daggerboards, no boom, and one of the most widely raced beach cats ever built.

LOA
5.49
M
YEAR DESIGNED
1975
DESIGNER
Rodney March, Ian Fraser, Kim Stephens and Terry Pearce
One-Design Sails

Sails For This Class

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Technical Data

Specifications

LOA
5.49
M
Beam
2.29
M
Draft
0.1
M
Hull Weight
129
KG
Crew Min
1
Crew Max
2
Year Designed
1975
Mainsail Area
13.5
M²
Jib Area
2.8
M²
Spinnaker Area
20
M²
Class Profile

Class Facts & History

Category
Catamaran
Type
dinghy
Designer
Rodney March, Ian Fraser, Kim Stephens and Terry Pearce
Class Association
International Dart 18 Class Association

History

Rodney March, fresh from designing the Tornado, teamed up with Ian Fraser, Kim Stephens and Terry Pearce at Panthercraft to launch the Dart 18 in 1975. It was built as a simpler, more affordable alternative to the Olympic Tornado, and more than 8,350 hulls have been built since, sailing in sixteen countries.

Sailing Characteristics

Skegs instead of daggerboards and no boom mean fewer things to break and an easier boat to right after a capsize. Leave the jib ashore and it sails well single handed, or rig it two up with trapeze for proper club racing pace without the rigging complexity of bigger cats.

Racing Context

World Championships have run since 1991, when 300 boats turned out at Abersoch, and the class still holds regular national and world titles today. Fleets remain strongest in the UK and Europe, with active class associations keeping the boat firmly one design.

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