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Traditional tuning of the 18 has the diamond wires tighter for heavier crews/lighter wind, diamond wires looser for lighter crews/heavier wind.
The method used in the H18 Performance manual for determining diamond wire tension has you placing marks on the mast (tape) at one-foot intervals starting at the lower diamond wire/rotator bolt and going up 3 feet. The highest point where you can press both wires against the mast is your current setting. A good baseline would probably be somewhere between the one and two foot marks, probably leaning towards the one-foot. Most 18 sailors I see seem to be leaning towards more tension rather than less.
As for mast rake, I haven't measured mine lately, so I can't even give you a reference number there. However, using the standard main blocks (non-low profile) on a new mainsail there is probably 3 to 4" between the blocks when sheeted hard upwind. Sorry I can't be more specific than that. Most important is to have a well balanced helm.
Regarding rig tension, I like to have mine somewhat on the loose side so that the mast can more easily rotate when going downwind. For recreational sailing, it's not a bid deal.
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