Photo of Victoria 18 Cutter
rigged sloop on lake Monroeville in Debary Fl.
There is only one cutter known still in existence.
The unit is located in Long Island, and belongs to Mike Fillimon.
Mike is not currently on line, but is looking forward to getting
online soon to share his abundant background in sailing, and
some experiences with his Victoria 18 Cutter.
Thoughts on the Safety and Design
of The Victoria 18
by Kemp Howland
The weather helm (in the Victoria) is a result of the design.
It does contribute to the safety of the boat and crew in that,
under severe heel, she will round up into the wind. I know of
no V18 sinkings, but I personally sank a Minuet! A hurricane
was making landfall at Daytona Beach (about 40 miles from the
Sanford FL marina where the photos I sent were taken). We had
no trailer for our Minuet rental boat, so we sunk her at her
moorings to ride out the storm. When the hurricanes passed we
inflated a couple of inner tubes under her foredeck and got her
up enough so we could pump her out. She was none the worse for
wear.
The nature of a ballasted keelboat allows
it to recover from a knockdown. As long as the bilges are dry
she will recover on her own, once the main and jib sheets are
freed. A sudden gust could knock her down, but the wind immediately
spills from the sails and she pops back up! Years ago children
played with inflatable punching bag toys which were filled with
air but had sand in the bottom for ballast. When the child punched
the life-size doll it would lay down flat. As soon as the momentum
from the punch was spent, the doll would flip back up due to
the righting effect of the ballast. Keelboats work much the same
way. An added benefit is that, under way, the form of the hull
as it interfaces with the water changes as the boat heels. A
well-designed boat will insist on going to windward when heeled
too far. The V18 is no exception. She just has a bit more weather
helm than other boats of her size.
Photo by Donald Peavey of his Victoria
18 in 10 knots on Delta Lake in Rome, in Central New York (near
Woodstock 99')
Because she lacks positive flotation, the
V18 will go to the bottom like a rock if she fills with water.
As long as the hatches and companionway boards retain their integrity
(i.e.: stay closed) she should recover from a knockdown. The
real worry is when the cockpit fills enough to allow water to
flow down the companionway. The V18 cockpit will hold a whole
lot of water, and it does not drain quickly. This and the rudder
problem is the Achilles Heel of the V18. In severe weather we
used to fill the cockpit with buoyant stuff (life jackets, coolers,
etc.) which would displace any large amount of water. Of course,
this stuff needs to be lashed down and it gets in the way of
your feet. But it prevents the cockpit from filling.
Best bet in heavy air is to reduce sail.
Get a calypso or storm jib and make sure you have both the first
and second reef points sewn into the main. (You need a small
foresail to counter the weather vane effect of the main by itself.)
Batten down the hatches, put on your PFD and head for shore if
you can. I've sailed a V18 in 45-50 mph winds under storm jib
and double-reefed main. No picnic, but it was controllable.
If your V18 turns upside down, and everything
stays shut, she should right herself. That is the theory, anyway.
In fact, if your V18 is upside down, perhaps you should rethink
your choice of hobbies! You are going to be very wet and you
should get as far from her as you can swim until she rights herself
and stabilizes (or disappears beneath the waves).
If the weather is THAT BAD, stay in port
and consume mass quantities
of rum. Its a V18 sailor tradition.
Photo's Courtesy of Kemp
Howland of the Victoria 18 Forum
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The Victoria 18 was built initially as a sloop rigged
boat. According to Kemp Howland who was there from the start
of Victoria Yachts, the boat was originally called the Allegro,
but was changed to the Victoria to honor/appease Mrs. McVay.