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Ideal 18 Handling Tips
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The Ideal 18 keelboat was designed by Bruce Kirby
as a strict one-design, accessible to sailors of all ages, weights, skill
levels, and competitive backgrounds. The emphasis is on strategy, tactical
skills, and boathandling, rather than tuning or special rigging.
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The Boat
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The 3/4 fractional sloop rig has no permanent or running backstays;
instead, rig stability is generated by 15 degree swept spreaders and a large
cross-section mast. Most sailors prefer to keep the upper and lower shrouds fairly loose
up to 15 knots. Upper tension ranges from about 180 lbs. up to 300 lbs.; lowers are
one or two turns above hand-tight until 12 knots; thereafter, usually about 75%
of upper tension.
The jib is self-tacking and roller-furling.
When sailing to windward, the jib has a sheeting angle of about eight
degrees. The spinnaker is small for an 18 foot boat, and easily handled by any
size forward crewmember; with standard twings, topping lift, foreguy, and
Spectra sheet/guy. The spinnaker is stored in a mesh bag on the port side of
the cockpit.
No hiking straps are provided or allowed; in fact, sailors are
required to keep their legs inside the boat. Because of the no-hiking rule and the
heavy keel, a larger range of weights is competitive than in
most one-designs. In 5-15 knots, any weight is competive.
Keels and rudders are identical with no fairing
allowed, the mast steps and partners locations are fixed, and headstay lengths
are the same.
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Upwind Sailing
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In light winds, 5-7 degrees of heel is best, and as flat as possible above
eight knots. The two bodies should be close together upwind, weight centered
six or eight inches in front of the barney post. When the breeze builds, sit
back a foot or so.
Although the boat can have an 80 degree tacking angle, it is usually better to
foot some and let the boat run. This is especially true when the waves build up.
Main trim is more important than jib trim in all conditions. Keep the vang
loose in light air. When both crew are sitting on the deck, the vang may be
pulled harder to bend the mast and open the narrow slot. Above 15 knots,
pull the vang as hard as possible and be prepared to use the sheet agressively.
The main likes a tight outhaul. The cunningham is a floating tack. Trim it
such that no hardlines radiate from the forward end of the bolt rope in the
boom slot. There is no main traveler; a fixed, non-adjustable bridle is
placed above the tiller.
The jib is tall and narrow. Typical jib trim is one-half inch to three inches
from the clewboard to the traveler block. The clewboard adjusts the lead
angle; top hole for 0-3 knots, second hole from 4-8, middle hole for 8-18,
fourth hole for 18+. Jib halyard tension and length are non-adjustable.
Because the main is large, bearing off requires mainsheet ease above 12 knots.
Agressive ease and trim is fast in puffy conditions. In puffy conditions
above 15, it is faster to luff the main and keep the boat driving than it is
to feather up; partly because the boat sails at high tacking angles in the
first place, and partly because this will keep the boat flatter.
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Downwind Sailing
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Downwind sailing is very much like in other dinghies. The pole
should be square to the apparent wind; in moderate wind and
flat seas, Ideal 18's may be sailed almost dead downwind with
the pole "oversquared." Sailing higher downwind angles is usually only
effective in light air.
On hoists, the crew moves the pole from the boom to the mast,
raises the topping lift, and raises the halyard while the skipper trims the
guy back. Dousing is essentially the opposite of hoisting.
Take care to make sure that the halyard will run free when uncleated.
During gybes, the crew stays in the cockpit. Most prefer to
gybe the main first, then the pole. The skipper trims both the sheet and guy
during the gybes, and pulls the guy back on the hoist.
Keep the spinnaker in front of the boat and out from behind
the main. If the sail repeatedly collapses despite good wind, trying squaring
the pole more and easing the sheet. Ideal 18's surf well,
but only plane in more than 15 knots of wind. In heavy breeze if the boat
is rolling too much, ease the pole forward and trim the
leeward twing to gain more control. Also move aft.
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Ideal 18 Trim Chart
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Sail Control/Technique
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0-4
knots
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5-10
knots
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11-15
knots
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18+
knots
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Mainsheet Tension (boom to bridle)
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- Flat Water
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8-12"
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6-8"
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6"
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6-10"
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- Choppy
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8-12"
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8-10"
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8"
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8-10"
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Outhaul
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- Flat Water
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1" eased
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tight
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tight
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tight
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- Choppy
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1 1/2" eased
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1/2" eased
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tight
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tight
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| Cunningham (cloth tension at slugs) |
soft
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soft
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small wrinkles
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flat (no wrinkles)
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| Vang |
5-10 degree twist
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5 degree twist
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tight
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very tight
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| Jibsheet (clew shackle to turning block) |
1 1/2 - 3"
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3/4 - 1 1/2"
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3/4 - 1 1/2"
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1/2 - 1"
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| Upper Shroud Tension |
150-180 lbs.
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180-220 lbs.
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220-280 lbs.
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300 lbs.
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| Lower Shroud Tension |
hand tight
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hand tight+1/2 turn
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165-250 lbs.
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225-250 lbs.
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| Heel Angle |
5-7 degrees
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5 degrees
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flat as possible
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flat as possible
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Skipper Position (relative to barney post)
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- Upwind
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1' in front
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athwartship
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athwartship
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1' aft
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- Downwind
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athwartship
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athwartship
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1' aft
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2' aft
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Crew Position (relative to shrouds)
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- Upwind
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just aft
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3" aft
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6" aft
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1' aft
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- Downwind
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3" aft
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6" aft
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1' aft
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3' aft
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