K1 - Whats the point?

Can someone explain to me where the market is for the K1 - Dinghy/Keelboat hybrid, I think I'm struggling to see it?

looks much to much hard work to fit that segment to me having looked at there proto type video.

I like the idea and the boat looks good - though I suspect it could be made prettier. I'll have a good look at the Dinghy Show - assuming it is there.

I do like the idea of a jib on a singlehander - IMHO a trick missed in both the D-one and the RS100. What the RS100 and D-One do have though is that expectation of a huge grin as the windward mark is reached.

I can't help feeling that a 3rd sail (of some sort) option on the K1 would make it a very interesting offering. Good luck to them.

I wonder where the sailors for these new single handers are going to come from? What fleets will suffer?

Had a look at the K1 and yes normally I would say that what is the point but two boats have recently appeared that have filled a gap in the market.

1. the RS 100 for those that want the idea of the MPS but either do not have the confidence or type of racing/waters suitable for the MPS and like boats. So this boat has great potential and will probably be RS's No.2 growth boat in the next couple of years. Without the MPS, none of this including the RS700 would have happened. Great and good luck to them on that one.

2. the K1 is of smilar evolution and is very different to the Illusion. Have you looked at one close up and sailed one. They are sit in low freeboard boats and not suitable for many types of sailors or waters. The point of the K1 is that it is very similar to that of the current style of sailing. I believe it will fill a gap yet to be proven where you have a dinghy sailor who wants a daysailor keelboat they can race, cruise and STORE easily. Subject to finish and quality, it will be a medium seller in UK/Europe and if it had not been launched, may have been RS's next market. It will probably prolong the competitiveness of the older dingy sailors as they find the limbs can no longer follow the mind and heart.

Best of luck and hope Jamie gets the sales. 

The market looks pretty clear to me...

As some one else has already mentioned its aimed at
dinghy sailors, at least people that want a small, easy
to tow, launch, sail boat... but don't want all the hard
work.

I've sailed one and was pleasantly surprised. It still
pays, to a degree, to hike but it tracks and sails so nicely on its ear that you don't have to.

And down wind, while not exciting like an asymmetric,
flying the with jib boom goose winged is fun and all the
effortless gybes with no worry of a capsize, lets you
play a very tactical game off wind that is fun.

I came from a Musto and now have an RS100 on order so I wasn't expecting much but have to say it was fun, I can
see the appeal and perhaps one day...

Ian