K1 on display at LIBS

Production version of new singlehanded 15ft keel boat on Hyde Sails stand

The first production K1 single-handed performance keelboat will be on display on the Hyde Sails stand NO14J at the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show at ExCeL London.

The K1 is a new 4.5m (15ft) high performance keelboat for single-handed sailing and racing designed by Paul Handley and marketed by Vandercraft. The K1 concept combines a light, narrow hull with a lifting bulb keel to create a fast single-hander providing the fun of performance dinghy sailing with the advantages of a keel for extra stability.

The prototype of this singlehanded keelboat was shown at the Southampton Boat Show in September and since then the K1 Sailing team have been working on finalising the design and the manufacture of mould tooling for production.

The rig has been developed with the help of Hyde Sails and Selden and the production rig will have a lightweight Seldon S2 section carbon mast and carbon boom with
Hyde Mylar sails.

The hull mouldings are being made by Synthesize Yachts using the latest resin
infusion techniques with vinylester resin to ensure light and strong construction.

The K1 will retail at £5590 inc VAT and sails (€5400 ex tax) and the Boat Show offer
is £5990 inc VAT for a complete package of boat, sails, cover and combi
trolley/trailer.

Sailing demos will start shortly after the end of the London Boat Show and the first
boats will be delivered in early spring - so far eleven K1s are on order.

Vital statistics
Length 4.5m (15ft)
Beam 1.3m (4ft 3in)
Hull weight 45kg
Keel weight 60kg
Sailing weight 120kg
Sail area 11sqm
Sails - Mylar, Hyde
Spars - Carbon, Selden
Builder - Synthesize Yachts
Designer - Paul Handley
Sales - Vandercraft