Bimares Javeline became some serious competition!

Eagle 18HT, Designed by Nils Bunkenburg and Eagle Cat!


Ventilo 18HT (2005), designed by Martin Fischer


Javelino, still very hot!

It's a shame that class seems to be dead here in the US. The boats look cool and seem to be fast as a Class.

You are right! But I think, there must be still around 20 boats in the US, but I don' know for sure.

Here in Switzerland, Italy and southern Germany the class is alive! We are a bunch of enthusiastic people and have a attractive race circuit!




The boats are just joy to sail...
light fast and simple

Novice question: Can you give a quick overview of the difference between the F18 and the 18HT? Thanks

They are two completely different boats:

Here's the quick and dirty:
F18 - low tech construction, lots of carbon limitations - platform weighs 397 lbs

F18HT - utilizes carbon in the beams, hulls, and mast - platform weighs 265 lbs

F18 - sloop rig with spin, limitations on sail cloth materials

F18HT - uni rig with spin, lots of exotic sail material choices - cuben fibre, carbon/mylar, etc.

F18 - fleets are popping up everywhere in the US - probably growing faster than any other class

F18HT - a couple of localized fleets, and the remainder are spread out all over

Opinion - I've owned and sailed both platforms extensively (literally 1,000's of miles). The 18HT is a neat boat for lake sailing, the F18 is better in big air/big waves. If you want a boat that you can improvise/engineer/modify go the 18HT route. If you want to race in one of the largest one-design fleets go F18. If you want to do both, buy an F18 and an A-Class Cat - then you'll be in heaven...

F18HT's are 130 kg overall (= ready to sail) and that is 287 lbs; not 265 lbs.


Wouter

Most of the 18HT cats are build with glas and polyester.
Only the mast is allmost allways made out of carbon.

What happend to the 18HT group in the US?
I know the F18's have grown strongly in the past 2 years, but the 18HT's had a niche by trying out the Yacht club scene.
Was it Import issues, like exchange rate, no real importer or one that did not promote the boat anymore, etc....
What happend to the guy that was doing the importing WF Oliver I believe, I have not heard a thing about him in ages.
What are the thoughts on this? They seem to be building and then just vanished.
While it's great to see the F18's the 18HT seemed to be up and coming as well.

I think they (F18HT) still have a web site, I'll try and find the address. One guy spent a ton of money pimping his to the max, and maybe that scared everyone else off, not wanting to spend big bucks to keep up?

The F18 rules say you must have an aluminum mast and beams, and has a high minimum weight for the platform, but they are selling alot more of them than any of the HT's. I've sailed both, the HT is much more powered up (taller mast) and a much better light air boat, (look closely at those pictures, light air), it is more difficult for the average sailor to handle in big wind than the F18, which has a shorter mast, a jib and a heavier platform with a wider beam wich makes it more stable in the gusts.

Personally I liked the HT on a lake, but it was a handfull in big wind and wet in big waves. It was lighter so easier to move around the beach, and a much better ride in under 15 knots, than the F18, which in my opinion does not get "fun" until above 15 knots.

If you were to build 18HTs in carbon you should be to get them down to under 100kg

What nice photograhy in this message thread!

I wonder why the Taipan 5.7 does not seem to have made it to this class. From the specifications that I have read on the boat, it was something to contend with.

GARY

A few answer to yr questions:

1) there are still 45 Javelin 2 sailing in the US plus 3 in Canada. Therefore the North American fleet can match the Italian and Swiss fleets;

2) there is also a new, perhaps the most radical, 18HT design not mentioned so far: the French Tomcat 18HT (3 boats built so far);

3) the US 18HT class web site is still running (see www.f18htclass.com) but it was no more updated since a while;

I heard that BIMARE is planning to sell a few new and used Javelins 2, Little America's Cup version (under 130 Kg), in the US at a very interesting price through VectorworksMarine, which is already taking care of providing assistance/replacements parts to all US 18HT owner.

The Tomcat does not look too radical to me;

Inward canted plates - A's have been doing this for a while

Round traveller track for the main - Again A's have been doing this for a while too.

I assume I've missied something

Would that be interestingly high or interestingly low?

-Rob V.

In August I bought USA 16 from Team Alexander. It has satisfied my needs for a boat that I can singlehand around the lake, and also take the kids and friends out. IT really is a blast with two people that semi know what the hell were doing! I have capsized it with my kids on board but did not really try to get it back up without help (the local sailing college sailing club was quick to get out and help us lift the mast out of the water and get it back upright. I suspect when I really start pushing the upper wind limits I will have to get a righting bag as I will often sail by myself. I am pretty comfy with 15kt upwind, its the downwind part that is scaring me at the moment! I didn't dare pull out the shoot.

When I did buy it, and granted I bought it sight unseen, I paid what was the lowest price I had seen for one with a trailer to date. I was also told that W.F. wasn't happy about the selling price, but hey the class in the US is pretty much dead and the guy selling it knew it, and just didn't want it sitting in the shed anymore. It did have some areas that need cosmetic fixing up. the nets need to be stitched in area's and I still havn't figuired all the riging out, just the basics.
The New England fleets are opting for I20 and looking at the Formula 20 rules, which better suitthem for the open ocean races. was used pretty hard and has some area's to fair, but the bottom had been faired, and the sails had seen little use (they had another set for racing), It didn't come with snuffer, so I am hand packing it behind the forward beam untill I can either fabricate one, or buy everything that I need to add it on.

Anyhow, its pretty easy to move around the sand, much easier than my Nacra 5.8 singlehanded. Takes very little time to rig ( I leave it mast up now.) and am really enjoying it. Does anything else matter?

What is considered an "Interesting Price" ? The 18HT could be a good open class buy at the right "Interesting Price" !!!!

According to a rumour circulating among European 18HT class members, BIMARE is willing to offer new 2006 Javelin 2 (carbon mast, boom, pole, snuffer, daggerboard and blades and certified weight of 128 Kg or less) for around 14,000 US dollars FOB Florida (at the current exchange rate) and used 2006 Little America's Cup Javelin 2 (boats sailed for only a week - same features as above) under 12,000.
BTW you can still find excellent 2003 Alter Cup Javelin 2 for 6,000-8,000 bucks (a real bargain!).

I think the Tiapans 5.7 were lighter than 130kg.

Can anyone confirm this?

A few of the builders felt that the HT min weight (Marstrom for one) was too high. The US Class members lobbied to lower the class weight, but the Europeans (and Bimare) wanted to leave it at 130kg.

As far as the class goes, its still viable - although dormant now, the rules are in place, the boats are in new owners hands and Vectorworks is providing support in the US. All it needs is a small group of volunteers to run the class and make the schedule.

Most of the boats are spread out on the east coast.

Any volunteers?

Bill

Bill, did you sell you boat (the HT)? I see you were sailing a F18 at the Nats. Tim

Isnt the Tiapan 5.7 a little long?
If the F18Ht is 18 foot from my calcs the T5.7 is 7inches too long..

S..