NS14 - Are they Good?

I think the kite size is measured on the perimeter i.e. luff, foot and leach measurements, rather than actual area.  I think the perimeter is 14m.  I believe it is done this way because it is easier to measure (and adds a bit of design flexibility).

By the way, thanks for your advice Chris and Skiffe.

Originally posted by Chris 249 There are some NS14s in Germany, where Andrew Landenberger is selling a one-design version (with trap added) under the name of "Flight 4.3s" or something similar. The "Flight" is a long-standing run of designs. I haven't sailed a Northie for ages, but they are much narrower on the water and considerably tippier than a Tasar. The more recent ones used distorted hulls to achieve a narrower waterline within the beam restrictions and these are, according to many designers, much more demanding than the old boats in that they slow down when heeled. The top Tasars no longer have a chance against a Northie in terms of overall speed; downwind in light to moderate I understand (from experience and discussions) the two are comparable but the NS is clearly faster upwind, and also reaching in a breeze.

Thanks for the info Chris

That is thirty years progress since the tasar came out the moulds.

Incidentally, has anyone rigged a kite to NS14s for non class racing?

Originally posted by Chris 249 There are some NS14s in Germany, where Andrew Landenberger is selling a one-design version (with trap added) under the name of "Flight 4.3s" or something similar. The "Flight" is a long-standing run of designs.

Is the NS14 really a MG14 listed above?

I know the difference, I have sailed both.

For the northern hemi, The MG14 and the NS14 ARE the same but the MG has a kite and trap added. The sails are the same area but a bit more grunty on the MG.

Both are fun boats with close racing and were not real tippy are most had long, 6ft boards.

There are some NS14s in Germany, where Andrew Landenberger is selling a one-design version (with trap added) under the name of "Flight 4.3s" or something similar. The "Flight" is a long-standing run of designs.

I haven't sailed a Northie for ages, but they are much narrower on the water and considerably tippier than a Tasar. The more recent ones used distorted hulls to achieve a narrower waterline within the beam restrictions and these are, according to many designers, much more demanding than the old boats in that they slow down when heeled.

The top Tasars no longer have a chance against a Northie in terms of overall speed; downwind in light to moderate I understand (from experience and discussions) the two are comparable but the NS is clearly faster upwind, and also reaching in a breeze.

Thanks Swiftsolo, that's very encouraging - those are precisely the conditions I sail in.