There are some special dinghy classes. There are some very special dinghy classes. And then there are the National 18s. You can see any number of reasons why this unique class, celebrating its 80th birthday in just three years time, is in a league of its own. A three-man boat with one of the crew on a trapeze, its crewing set–up requires a level of sociability which is further emphasised ashore, where their après sailing is the stuff of legend.

See below the remainder of an article by WM Nixon in Afloat Magazine:

http://afloat.ie/blogs/sailing-saturday-with-wm-nixon/item/28117-national-18s-take-dinghy-racing-class-onto-a-new-plane