I have a 14.
Brings me great joy. Now I feel I would like a larger boat because I figure size matters.

I sail solo 95% of the time with my wife or a friend the rest of the time. She is an unwilling participant.

My reasons to upgrade are Go fast, take more passengers or cargo. (cabin is on an island) I want to fly a jib and eventually a spinnaker.

I am curious about an 18. Is this too big a bite? I don't go out in big blows, just medium blows. Is the problem that you can't optimize the sailing in heavy weather or is it physically too difficult to be in two places simultaneously?

I want to know if I should go to a 17 and be happy or go for the 18 and "damn the torpedoes".

I am a reasonably competant sailor with lots of windsurfing experience. (won A fleet championships years ago)

So what's the suggestions? (I have no access locally to any other cats or sailors to ask these questions)