The Tasar v the Icon

Originally posted by Bootscooter I'd disagree with Grumph on this...

I think it's fair to say most of us would disagree with iGRF.

I'd disagree with Grumph on this... I've only got personal experience of the ENs for the Alto and now the D-One, so whilst not extensive I think the Alto is a great example of what happens.
When the boy and I started racing the boat we were racing off 925 (CA recommended) and were finishing where we expected to in club racing. At the Medway Regatta we sailed of 915 and the Altos took the top 4 places (albeit in favourable conditions for the design). Come the SailJuice series we had to sail off 910, and again we ended up where we could reasonably expected to be-ish, and then the RYA issued an EN of 912.
So what does it all mean? Obviously, it means that with time in the boat and experience we got faster - well who wouldn't? The way that the number has come down meant we never had to go through the embarrassment (and dirty looks) of the handicap bandit level too much, and I dare say that at this year's SailFest I'll be close in the results (in my D-One) to the Alto we were dicing with in 2013 (when we both kept them upright).

The system ain't perfect, but it's not bad either, and this is why you can't step in to an Icon for the 1st time and expect to win straight off, no matter how good you are in your usual boat.

Edited by Bootscooter - 28 Jul 14 at 10:43pm

Originally posted by blaze720 The handicap numbers will sort themselves out in time - albeit the GL ones will 'zero in' to a true number much more quickly than the simplistic (arthritic ?) official PN system - (Yes - we know and the pun is fully intended as well).....   Mike L.

Edited by chrisg - 28 Jul 14 at 9:54pm

Sounds like selling to the Yanks, dragging straight onto pontoons?

The sail when set is actually very good, even Contender man (pickier than me) complemented us on the way it set, and so does the jib, we all very much like the boat, if Trev likes it when he gets back we may have to enter negotiation mode.

Having said that it hasn't yet gone out in the full teeth of a sou'wester that will be final proof, I'm already getting other members suggesting we get it as a club boat. (like that's going to happen after what the muppets do to those Visions) but we do have lots of man wife, boy girl combo's that it would be ideal for and the fact it's in there pitching in the fleet with the Merlin, the Hornet, the 500's at ball park PY (even though it's wrong) at 979 (the Gt Lakes figure) and the Merlin at 973 we'd have a fair battle, we'd just have the Merlin boys whining like girls if ever they had to admit their guilt.