True the big 18teens were fantastic boats.
We had 29 foot wings .. My main mast was 39 ft. with a big kite of 2900 Sq ft. Cant remember the working sail area.. Hull weighed 100 lbs clean..

I recall monkey sailing around Lake Geneva with his big rig up with kite .. alone..
Then the scary boats in a drifter 0-5 kts are the 12s!!

I miss-read.. Think now your meaning the traditional "heavy weight 18s like mele bilo, westerly, britiania etc. Great fun to watch or sail..