The Tasar v the Icon

This jib stick lark is really impressive. When the 'former boy' was barely a boy, about 13/14 I crewed our Grad for him which was fitted with our 'mop handle' dangly pole. I used to have the pole control in one hand and the sheet in the other when reaching. That way I could keep things under control during variable gusts. Last night with the Tasar we just left the jib stick alone....too much trouble....but had we been using a dangly we would have deployed it downwind and reaching. If I could find a decent helm to sit behind  me in the Tasar I may illegally fit a dangly......just for fun. 

Hi Dougal

There will be a few at 'Sailfest' in late August ..... maybe we can tempt you with a loan boat as well ?  This is a 100% serious offer.   But we can do something sooner as well.   You will find Icon cuts through 'slop' in a manner very similar to many Cats and very effectively ..... with little slamming and loss of speed.  

It is extremely rare to get much water coming into the cockpit.  Many boats clatter over the top of stuff like 'Solent Slop' or bounce and slam but Icon just 'slices and dices'.  Yes I know I know we are terribly biased .... so the only way is for people to try and make up their own minds.   No boat will ever be perfect but Icon really does its stuff rather nicely.

Mike L.


Edited by blaze720 - 24 Jul 14 at 7:49pm

Dougal

Glad you got a go and enjoyed it.  The sheeting as some have said already is 'open' choice in the class(We allow ANY sheeting arrangement on the main - why ?  because there seems little reason to restrict personal preferences that do not fundamentally change the pace of the boat - and 'they' wanted it 'open' - 'they' being the totally unstructured sample of testers we used !).

The option for a thwart is treated in a similar manner.  If the crews union want one - it is available.  It won't make you signicantly faster or slower but if it 'suits' you then why would we ban them ? One boat is already fitted with one and the new builder will offer them as a standard option from day one.

And you really must have a go in say 15kn some time ......  lets talk soon or have a chat with Mike / Charlotte if you are still there.

Mike L.

PS - But we are still waiting for feedback from GRF of course  - perhaps the true 'acid' test is to come ?


Edited by blaze720 - 24 Jul 14 at 7:11pm

Originally posted by hobbiteater and i would suggest they had some issues in race 3, given the elapsed time

Oh how silly of me to forget - this isn't the place for rational debate. (I remember all too well when I did the test sails for the Halo V RS100 and got slated for being objective about the relative merits of the boats - plus the D-One that I'd been away sailing with Devoti out in Italy).

BUT - I don't recall saying that anything was missing; I merely said that there were things that I didn't like. Now having said that there was 110 years plus in the boat, that might suggest to the mildly less ignorant that those sailing the boat today have many years actually sailing (rather than just being famed as a 'posting king' ) and indeed, this is the case. So, I'll admit to a long standing preference for a centre main sheet and jammer. But I do know that the thwart is an option (will try that too) as is pretty much any sheeting system you like.

My objective view was that the thinking behind the boat is well worthy of that 'niche' it could (and should) occupy - and the presentation of the boat first class.

But Hobbiteater, you probably have the advantage over me of having already extensively sailed the boat in a wide range of conditions so until I have enjoyed that pleasure, I'll defer to your wiser knowledge!!!!!!!

D