Apollo 18 Information, Review, Specs

Production of the Apollo 18 commenced in 1969, a period when Prout & Sons was well into its journey as a leading catamaran manufacturer. Founded in 1935, Prout & Sons, led by Roland and Francis Prout, had already transitioned from building canoes and folding dinghies to experimenting with catamarans as early as 1949, and were among the first to adopt fiberglass construction for these vessels. The company's ethos emphasized durability, safety, and practicality, qualities that underpinned even their smaller, performance-oriented models like the Apollo 18.

The Apollo 18 was built to the specifications of the International "A" Class Catamaran, a development class established in the late 1950s by the International Yacht Racing Union (now World Sailing). This class was characterized by a minimized set of construction rules focused on maximum length (18 feet), maximum width (7.5 feet), and maximum sail area (150 square feet), coupled with a minimum weight. This "anything goes" philosophy within strict dimensional limits encouraged designers like Neil Coster to push the boundaries of performance, leading to boats of outstanding speed and responsiveness. As an early model in this class, the Apollo 18 likely featured solid fiberglass hulls and an aluminum mast, consistent with the materials prevalent for A-Cats of its era.

Sailing Performance and Handling

As an 18-foot catamaran designed for "A" class single-handed racing, the Apollo 18 is a pure performance machine, not intended for cruising comfort. With a reported sail area of 150 square feet and a displacement of just 240 pounds, it is an exceptionally lightweight and powerful vessel. Its catamaran hull form, combined with twin daggerboards and two rudders, allows for remarkable agility and the ability to sail very close to the wind.

The A-Class catamaran, of which the Apollo 18 is an early example, is celebrated as the fastest single-handed small catamaran in the world, often likened to the "Formula One" of sailing. Its cat-rig (single mast with the sail attached directly to it) simplifies handling and maximizes sail efficiency. Sailors on A-Cats like the Apollo 18 are typically on the trapeze upwind even in light breezes, and are known to fly a hull downwind, demonstrating the boat's high responsiveness and thrilling performance. Modern A-Class catamarans, evolving from designs like the Apollo 18, have been recorded exceeding speeds of 24 knots. The daggerboard system not only enhances upwind performance but also allows the boat to be easily beached or sailed into very shallow waters by retracting the boards. While easy for an experienced sailor to handle, mastering the Apollo 18, and A-Class cats in general, to achieve peak performance is considered highly challenging.

Accommodations and Layout

Consistent with its design as an "A" class single-handed racing catamaran, the Prout Apollo 18 offers no interior accommodations in the traditional sense. Its primary purpose is competitive sailing, and as such, the hull structures are minimal, focusing solely on hydrodynamics and structural integrity for performance. There is no listed maximum headroom, as the boat essentially consists of an open deck and cockpit area, designed for the single helmsman to actively manage the boat while sailing at high speeds. This layout is typical for highly specialized racing dinghies and small catamarans, prioritizing lightweight construction and ergonomic functionality over any form of living space.