Why does the Johnson 18 look so different?
It is the first computer-optimized racing-style dinghy. The Johnson 18’s features were deliberately chosen to maximize strength, speed, and comfort while minimizing complexity and cost. It is not simply a copy of other popular dinghies stretching back through time. Sailors are very tradition-minded. For example, the first planing dinghy was designed in 1928, yet it took over thirty years for new classes to incorporate this advance in design. Thirty years from now, most spinnakers will be asymmetrical and transoms will be archaic… and Johnson 18 #1 will still be sailing!
