Tasar PN

When I was younger, it was definately the case that 420s went soft after about 2-3 seasons, hence the reason that the squads would go through so many boats. Saying that though, older 420s were beating new boats but that may be due to sailor ability and nothing else. The re-sale value of the boats are really low due to the fact that they do go soft, and most youths go for the squads because if they are selected, they generally get a new boat or at worst, one that's a few seasons old, so what is the point in buying an expensive 420, when if you are good enough and needing a competitive boat, you can get one off the squad?

Wow its great to see so much interest, thanks allanorton for starting this thread but come and try a Tasar before you get too worried. I'm sure you will feel a lot better afterwards and perhaps start thinking about the bigger issue of handicap and why we still use a system designed around the huge club dinghy fleets of the 70's.

I would never advise anyone to buy a Tasar to win in Handicap racing. We have been stuck with a penal rating for the last 15 years as other classes have moved on due to the nature of the PY returns system. When did you see a Tasar win or even place in the top ten of any of the major handicap events. One problem is that the best sailors in a lot of classes are rarely posting results in club handicap events therefore never show up in the returns. I would suggest 1050 would be a fair number if we matched sailors of comparable ability and equipment.

My National 12 has more sail area and is quicker on the water, as for modern Merlins, Fireballs Flying Fifteens.... The banter when I travel to open handicap events is usually that I have brought the wrong boat, yet at club level racing against sailors that do not attend World Championships or compete in the top ten in their national fleet we do rather well.

The new sails were introduced as a facelift, and are £150 a suit cheaper than the Dacrons. About a square foot of area has been added to the jib roach with a redistribution from middle to head in the mainsail. The corners of the sails are in the same positions as with the dacrons so there is no need to move sheeting positions.  The mast is still two piece aluminium and there are no plans for any future changes.

I really hope the new sails are quicker, so far we know they are more gust responsive than the old sails and look and feel great. In the first big comparison dacrons placed 1,2,3. oops. But there were a lot of excuses. Sailing fast is fun doing it in comfort with a good friend is fantastic.

Sailing in handicap races is about sailing for enjoyment. Only one boat will win. People sail Tasars because its so much fun with so little effort. Husbands and wives, girl and boyfriends, big children and small. All want to go fast but without the need to be great athletes and without the stress of a third sail. Both Tasar crew tend to be extremely good looking and have excellent taste. Its a niche market...

If any of you want to try a Tasar send me a mail or get in touch through the Tasar website.

Tim Knight

Tasar European President

Owner of various Tasars and a National 12

"Where are you sailing? Is 249 a Tasar"

New South Wales. The Tasar's a 700 series. I haven't sailed it for a long time unfortunately; was saving my energy for a major tilt at the worlds (used to be normally in the Linsley/Bretherton/Duglii/Ferret region of the fleet when I was a regular, but went through a time when I only raced once a year and dropped back) but major family issues got in the way.

I was going to flog the boat but then I took it out for the first time in yonks and realised just how great they are to sail. It's just a pity you need a regular crew because my logical crew owns her own cat and wants to sail that. The Tasar's been lent to a former state champ in Lasers and Tasars who hopefully will race it.

"Does anyone else feel Olympic level Lasers and Finns are slow?"

I must say, I reckon they're pretty slow in that while they're pretty quick for what they (ie a hiking singlehanded dinghy) that category of boat is just about the slowest form of sailing craft isn't it? Here in Sydney over the last few years we've had Schiedt, Ainslie, Blackburn etc and all the top Finn guys and they just can't hold the Tasar in most conditions, certainly not upwind or reaching in any breeze.

It doesn't mean the Laser isn't a great boat (I've never sailed the Finn) but it's just not in the same speed bracket as the Tasar most of the time. Of course that's no problem, if it's pure speed we're talking we all know that none of these classes is worth mentioning.

"Our new resident Tasar World Champion has only raced handicap a few times since coming back to the UK but he has not upset the local Merlin Fleet, yet..."

Yeah, the Whitstable Merlin guys tell me that even upwind in a breeze they can hold or beat the Tasars which is pretty impressive. But what UK sailor won the worlds? I thought the best were 8th and 9th?