K2 Wanted

Matthew Scoffield is looking for a K2 in the UK.

If you have one to sell or know of someone please contact Matthew

07722 464499

matthew_scoffield@hotmail.com

Ovington have announced that the K2 moulds are coming out of storage in December 2024

THE K2

Introducing the K2 – The new 2-person keel dinghy

The K2 combines a low chine hull with lifting bulb keel to ensure high stability and great sailing performance in modern user-friendly design:

Ample space for two or more in a comfortable sit-in or sit-out cockpit
Greater stability and self-righting from a knock-down
Simple, clean two-sail layout with an optional asymmetric kite for extra fun
Ideal for club racing, cruising or training
Stable and secure so ideal for beginners and youngsters too
Easy launching – weighs less than many general-purpose dinghies
High specification and excellent value

The K2 is designed by Paul Handley and available from Ovington, suppliers of the K1 single-handed keelboat.

During 2019 we welcomed K2 sailors to the association and are updating the site to accommodate the needs of K2 owners as well. Contributions from K2 sailors are welcome. We hope that by making the K1 open events open to K2 sailors that we can extend our mutual learning and development. It is hoped in time that as numbers of K2’s swell, they will be given a separate start.If you are a K1 or K2 owner and want to host an open event, please get in touch.

Length: 4.72 m
Beam: 1.62 m
Draft: 1.15 m
Keel weight: 62 Kg

Sailing weight: 155 Kg

Trial PY1050 2-sail
1030 with spinnaker

Designer Paul Handley

K2 DESIGN

The K2 is a 4.7m (15.5ft) dinghy with lifting bulb keel for racing or general recreational sailing with 2 or more persons. It combines light and sleek chine hull with a 62kg bulb keel to create a fast and forgiving dinghy with the sailing qualities of a small keelboat.

It is designed to sail with a small angle of the heel so that the bulb weight provides righting moment and hence contributes to potential speed as well as increased stability. Stability further increases as it heels in gusts, ensuring smooth sailing motion and greatly reducing the risk of knockdown, and if the boat is knocked down it is self-righting without crew intervention in most conditions.

The crew can sit comfortably on the ergonomically-designed cockpit seats with plenty of legroom in the cockpit or sit out and may hike in stronger winds for extra windward speed.

The hull mouldings and rig are as light as practical so that K2 can be handled easily on shore for launching and recovery. The hull weight is kept low by lightweight foam sandwich construction which is vacuum consolidated to ensure strong and stiff mouldings.

The modern rig comprises a North Mylar mainsail of square top design which is both powerful but easily controlled and de-powered in a blow. Alternatively, a Dacron sail with reef may be used so sail area can be reduced in a breeze.

The jib is Dacron and can goose-wing square with an optional fly-away pole for running downwind when sailing with two sails only. The optional asymmetric spinnaker provides extra power for fast off wind sailing.

The keel is lowered and lifted easily with the boat in the water by a simple block and tackle which is stowed in a cockpit bag in the boat. The rudder lifts so the boat can be launched in shallow water to sail out to deeper water before dropping the keel.

The K2 can be launched and recovered like any other dinghy and fits a standard combination trailer for towing.

K2 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I RAISE THE KEEL?

The keel can be raised quickly using the 6:1 block and rope lifting strop which is attached to the lifting points on the top of the keel and to the mast. When sailing the lifting tackle is stowed in a bag under the mast deck plate.

CAN I SAIL IN SHALLOW WATER WITH THE KEEL PARTLY UP?

Yes, we have found that if the keel is partly raised you can still tack the boat as there is enough movement in the lifting strop to allow the boom to move from side to side. The rudder is lifting too.

CAN I LAUNCH AND RECOVER THE K2 ON A TROLLEY LIKE A NORMAL DINGHY?

Yes, the K2 has a trolley with the boat supported by the gunwales and keel on a central cradle. Before launching take the weight of the keel bulb on the lifting tackle and the boat will float off like a normal dinghy, although it needs a few more inches of depth.

IS IT HEAVY TO PULL UP A SLIPWAY?

Despite the weight of the keel, by keeping hull construction light, the ready to sail weight of a K2 is close to many similar dinghies and less than some popular general-purpose dinghies. The K2 also has a lightweight alloy trolley to further save weight.

SHOULD I SAIL THE K2 UPRIGHT LIKE A DINGHY?

When sailing heeled part of the righting movement comes from the keel bulb weight, a part from the hull shape and part from the crew weight. The bulb is like an extra crew – the more you heel the more righting moment it produces – the ideal angle of the heel will probably be around 15 to 20 degrees to windward and a bit more upright when sailing fast off-wind.

DO WE HAVE TO SIT OUT?

The K2 cockpit has seats so that you can comfortably sit in or sit out. For sailing to windward in a breeze you would normally sit out and you will go faster if hiking out in the toe-straps, but it is not as important as for a normal dinghy.

CAN I CAPSIZE A K2?

Probably, if it is windy enough, but unlike a dinghy which loses stability rapidly if it heels beyond 20 to 30 degrees, the K2 stability increases the more it heels. This makes it very forgiving on a gusty day when dinghies are capsizing.

IS THE K2 EASY TO SAIL?

Yes, with the extra stability from the keel and simple layout, the K2 is easy to sail and very comfortable too.

HOW MANY CREW ARE NEEDED TO SAIL THE K2?

There is room for more than two in the cockpit for cruising, but for racing the class rules specify 2 persons only. For cruising the K2 can easily be sailed single-handed.

IS THE K2 FAST?

Yes, with its long waterline the K2 is quick and points well too. Downwind you can either goose-wing the jib and run fast or boost performance with the easily controlled asymmetric kit.

CAN I SAIL A K2 AT A DINGHY CLUB?

A few dinghy clubs do not permit keelboats, but the K2 is designed to be used as a dinghy, so this is not normally an issue. Please contact us if your club has any questions about the suitability of the boat at your club.

CAN I HAVE A TEST SAIL?

This can normally be arranged in the UK and other countries where we have an international dealer. Please contact the dealer to arrange this.

IS THERE AN OWNER’S CLASS ASSOCIATION?

The K2 will be supported by a Class Association and we expect this to be active and grow quickly as for the K1.