Despite the low freeboard, the combination of a long coachroof and broad stern creates a good deal of space below decksgo into production, probably
offering a sports version with a longer cockpit and shorter coachroof as well.
AccommodationFor a slim-hulled 22-footer the RTC offers a remarkable feeling of space. You also get four generous
berths, comfortable sitting headroom and provision for a galley. The case for the bulbed, vertically-lifting keel is braced by
a seriously beefy-looking web. A centreplate will be offered as well, swinging up beneath the hull to minimise internal intrusion.before being asked to carry on with the sheets still pinned in. She hove to surprisingly happily for a boat with a large mainsail and
small jib, and could be gybed around without the sheets being touched. The rudder gripped well, too. If we provoked her by
over-sheeting and sailing too deep, it hung on until the gunwale was awash – and she took some
pushing to go over that far.would be sacrilege to sail a boat like this with a prop dragging It goes without saying that it
through the water. The outboard can’t be tilted up, so you lift it into its dedicated locker and insert the fairing plug in the well. If you’re
into power-sailing you can use up to 6hp. Demon have a Torqeedo that produces the equivalent of3hp and is ample in most situations. It also goes without saying that accommodation is not a priority on the Kite: two berths,
comfortable sitting headroom, space for a chemical loo and some stowage beneath the bridgedeck is all you need for
weekending, together with a tent over the cockpit. It’s all pretty civilised nonetheless.effortless 7.4 knots with the wind on the beam, maintaining 6 knots plus most of the time even in the lighter patches. On the wind we
clocked speeds in the mid-to-high 5s, and this was with a boat whose sails couldn’t be pulled into the right shape because the
hardware still needed sorting – though the jib sheet could easily be led to the windward winch, which is always a good idea.
the balance of the blades on the twin hinge-up rudders which, combined with the short tillers, Also in need of sorting was
made the helm uncomfortably
heavy. This should be simple to resolve and will transform the feel of the boat. At a more fundamental design level, a
number of tweaks might be made to the hull: softening the chines, moving the longitudinal centre of buoyancy forward to lift the
transom clear of the static waterline, and adding an inch or three to the freeboard. This sort of thing is all in a day’s work for
Composite Mouldings and Buckley Yacht Design. When it’s all as they like it, they will build the tooling – the prototype is inPractical Boat Owner 595 January 2016 plywood and cedar strip – and • http://www.pbo.co.uk 75
Tested – Kite and RTC 22PBO verdictPBO verdictAndrew Wolstenholme describes the Kite as an update of his popular Norfolk Gypsy, but ‘half the
weight and twice as fast.’ There’s not really any penalty for shedding the weight – just easier
trailer-sailing and a lot more performance. If the idea of a trailer-sailer gaffer appeals, you might fi nd it
hard not to like the Kite.This is a boat whose development will be worth watching. If the potential of the design is fully
realised – and we hope to follow her progress – she will be a quick and attractive little sports cruiser offering
enough variations of cabin, cockpit and keel to satisfy a lot of people. A boat like this has been needed for a
long time.The Green Kite. Whatever your choice of upholstery colour, there’s room to stretch out or sit up down below, plus galley space under the bridgedeckUpwind performance is good for a gaffer. She’s pretty dry, tooTech spec: RTC 22
A petrol outboard up to 6hp can be used. This Torqeedo produces the equivalent of 3hp
PRICE: £27,950LOA:LWL: 6.82m (22ft 4in)6.50m (21ft 4in)
Beam: Draught 2.50m (8ft 2in)– keel up: 0.50m (1ft 8in)– keel down: 1.51m (5ft 0in)
Weight (dry):Ballast:Sail area: 360kg (793lb)28sq m (301sq ft) 800kg (1,763lb)
Builder:www.compositemouldings.com Composite Mouldings Ltd