Progress with National 18 Number 401
The sail numbers for new Morrison designed National 18 are beginning to be allocated. Odyssey, the prototype is number 400. The first new boat completed by White Formula will be number 401. The intention is to include the sail number in the Hull Identification Number for each new boat. The moulds for the hull and inner deck are completed; the ring deck will be completed shortly. The building of 401 is going very well; even the builders are excited about her looks and progress!
At this moment WF are a little ahead of schedule and confident that there will be a gleaming boat at the Dinghy Show in London. The intention is that the whole boat will be joined together in time for the next formal meeting with WF on 20th January to finalise the fitting package so that the boat will be ready for proving during February.
The photos below show the inner deck and ring deck moulds being prepared.
The photos below show the first hull appearing from the mould…………AN HISTORIC MOMENT IN THE STORY OF THE CLASS!
Orders for new boats
To date there are 15 orders for new boats. WF plan to build a new boat each week after the dinghy show in order to ensure these boats are ready to sail in time for the championships.
For those thinking about a new boat, an Order Form has been prepared setting out the options available. In principle four packages will be available:
1. Ready to Sail
2. Moulded Hull complete with Fittings and Foils, ready to accept an existing rig
3. Moulded Hull with Fittings Pack and Centreboard
4. Moulded Hull and Centreboard.
WF has prepared a standard Harken fittings package. There are three options for the mainsheet controls, many hull and deck colours from which to choose your dream boat, boat cover protection, and boat movement trailers and trolleys. Sailmakers have also been approached for those who do not a preferred loft.
Progress with the Foils
White Formula is building the centreboards for the new boats in order to keep them as close to one-design as possible. Some owners may wish to use their exiting rudders but if they are not suitable then WF will be building and supplying new blades and cassette rudder stocks as well.
The pictures below show the 3D CNC milled centreboard profile mould for the prototype for test fitting in the case.
Dinghy show, dates and location
The dates are the weekend 28 Feb/1 Mar and the venue is London’s Alexandra Palace. We have stand B24 in the Great Hall where we will be showing Number 401, the first production Morrison 18 and a video of film and stills of Odyssey sailing off Lymington.
It is a long time since an 18 has been at the Show and it will be helpful if as many 18ers as possible – past and present – come in support and wear a something of 18 clothing. Jeremy Vines is coordinating our effort and will be glad to hear from anyone prepared to help on the stand for an hour or two on either day.
Odyssey and the Sailjuice Series
The Sailjuice series brings together the eight big winter dinghy events around England into a single points series. As far as Odyssey is concerned, points are not really relevant because our helms and crews are different at each event. She is there to fly the flag and to give a number of people a chance to race her.
This year priority is being given to our builder, White Formula, who needs Odyssey in Brightlingsea as a ‘go-by’ while constructing and fitting out the first hull on the production line.
This limits availability to the Datchet Flyer on 13th Dec (which is already reported on the N18 Facebook page), the Oxford Blue on 3rd Jan with the Bristol boys in charge (Ollie Houseman, Steve Watton, Doug
Nestor) and the Bloody Mary on 10th Jan with an Anglo/Irish crew (Fred Cudmore, Ollie Houseman, Kaan Yargici). However, the Grafham Grand Prix on 22 Feb is also a possibility with a Berney family crew.
National 18 Championships at Cork in 2015
The dates are 26th to 31st July and the venue is the Royal Cork Yacht Club at Crosshaven. The Championships were last held there in 2011 with 51 entries; this was an all-time record and the bar takings bigger than some Cork Weeks. All types of 18s will be very welcome and the racing will be organised according to the entries.
There should be a fleet of around 14 of the new Morrison designed 18s forming the new “Ultra” Category to join the existing fleet of Ultimates, Pen-Ultimates, and Classics; the major Class Trophies will be suitably redistributed. Please look at the N18 website for full details of the Championships as the arrangements evolve.
Additionally the RCYC is reviving Dinghy week from the 20th – 23rd Aug with a fleet start for National 18’s. The RCYC warmly welcomes anyone wishing to leave their boats in Cork following the Class Championships to accommodate their return for this exciting new event.
RYA Involvement
In order to maintain the Class’ National status, the RYA has been kept fully informed of the rule changes and how the Class Association maintains the engagement of National 18s of all ages. It is important to the Class and to the RYA that the older boats continue to be part of the fleet. The Class Association’s approach to Class categories at Championships – Ultimates, Pen-Ultimates, and Classics (and now Ultras) – together with handicapping at local clubs is a good indication of the inclusiveness of the Class. Long may it last! Everyone is keen to see all categories of the Class throughout its history out on the water.
The Class together with the RYA will be re-visiting the Class rules in due course. In the meantime the new boats require inspection and measurement by the RYA, approval to the quality of the moulds, and ensuring that the boats receive an RCD. It is intended that WF will provide a Declaration of Conformity for each boat, meaning that it has been built from the RYA approved Class mould, RYA approved rules, and by a RYA approved builder, together with each boats’ Hull Identification Number.
Identifying New National 18s
The National 18 logo will appear on the aft corners of each new deck now that the deck mould is off the plug – as shown on the two photos below. Having the Class logo on the deck will identify for all time each boat as a National 18 along with its own Hull Identification Number (HIN).
