BoatsVictoria Yachts 18

Victoria Yachts 18

Fractional Sloop · Long Keel · 1977–1983

A fractional sloop derived from the Minuet, featuring a long keel and a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio

Designed by G. William McVay Sr.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

See her sail

The Victoria Yachts 18, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Living For Sail

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.68 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 544 kg of hull, so roughly 1,150 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 544 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.61 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 13 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 13
CoastalBluewater

2.07 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.07
LightHeavy

254 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 254
EasygoingPowered-up

19.4 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 19.4
TenderStiff

46% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 46%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Lighter than ~87% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~88% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~99% of boats her size on file

Compared with 68 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Victoria Yachts 18, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Victoria Yachts 18 is a fractional sloop with a long keel, designed by G. William McVay Sr. and built by Victoria Yachts, Inc. from 1977 to 1983. Derived from the earlier Minuet, it has an LOA of 5.6 meters, a beam of 1.7 meters, and a draft of 0.6 meters, displacing 544 kg. Victoria Yachts, founded by the designer's son Bill McVay in DeBary, Florida, produced the boat in sloop and limited cutter versions. The cutter variant features a bowsprit. A shortened version, the Victoria 17, was introduced just before the factory closed and has an outboard rudder.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
45.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.4
Displacement / length
253.7
Comfort ratio
13.2
Capsize screening
2.07
Hull speed
4.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
252
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1977–1983
Units built
600
Designer
G. William McVay Sr
Builder
Victoria Yachts, Inc

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Jeanneau Cap 4504.65 mSame hull family1.0 m shorterA shallow-draft fractional sloop with a long keel, designed for easy handling in shoal waters
WE SAILED TO MARTINIQUE FOR CARNIVAL! EP-13717:12from Leading the Escapade
Jeanneau Cap 5405.40 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 5.4-metre fractional sloop featuring a long keel and 0.64m draft, built by Jeanneau starting in 1986
Delivery and tour, before and after ⛵️ Jeanneau 54 sailboat3:11from Allende los Mares · Vuelta Vertical
Pearson Yachts Ensign6.86 mSame hull family1.2 m longerA Carl Alberg-designed fractional day sailor and one-design racer built on the proven Electra hull for active club fleets
EP#337 Spring is in the Air! Boat Prep9:57from Sailing Into Oblivion

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

McVay Fiberglass Yachts MinuetA slender, high-performance fractional sloop with a 42% ballast ratio that served as the design basis for the Victoria 18

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