The Tasar v the Icon

Originally posted by iGRF However I'm prepared to be open minded and will attempt to take on the Merlin with it's handicap of 990 with us sailing off 969 without a kite and fully expect to be resoundingly trashed, you can rest assured I'll be once more singing handicap committees praise and fully respecting their professional decision making process.

Originally posted by winging it I am taking the Hunts Icon to Hythe this afternoon, so expect more feedback from grumpf.  The boat was sailed by lots of different helms and crew here, from fairly expert to relatively inexperienced.  the only common negative comment was that it really needed a thwart to be comfortable for the crew in the light stuff.  I'm not sure about that myself, but I can see the point.  Otherwise the impressions were immensely favourable.  For the helm it's a great sail; very smooth, great acceleration in a puff, relatively easy to set up and go. It's unfortunate that Er Indoors didnt like it, otherwise I would have bought it, without doubt.  I dont rule it out as a future purchase when she has more experience.

Originally posted by blaze720 can an Icon do that? well yes .... and if the EN is anything to go by, and by implication at least, a tad faster as well.  The EN however is not right of course but the boat is quick enough.  Both the Tasar and Icon are NS14 derivatives that incorporated the current thinking and hull refinements of their respective times - The Tasar was really a stretched early 70's NS ... and Icon hull was of course derived very much later  but is also stretched and for very much the same reasons.  The NS is/was a development class and the inteveening decades arguably produced quicker shapes that are both faster all round and very much faster in lighter winds.... which is exactly why it was selected as the starting point for Icon.   We have come up against a couple of decent 300's at some of the Sailjuice events and on most points seemed to be of similar speed - well perhaps between a Phantom and 300 would be more accurate if down to hair splitting.   Anyway not too shabby for a 2-sail boat not developed round a 'speed at any cost' model - it is just very nice to sail, simple, light and forgiving and that was the whole point... good speed was the bonus. But of course we are just horribly biased ...  iiitick - try one out yourself if you get a chance and if you don't get the opportnunity talk to the CA who can usually arrange a loan.   Or perhaps try/borrow my own one...  'The 'Dancing Farmer' is doing farming sort of things at this time of year so I'm back in the singlehander for a month or two anyway .....  Mike L.

I am taking the Hunts Icon to Hythe this afternoon, so expect more feedback from grumpf.  The boat was sailed by lots of different helms and crew here, from fairly expert to relatively inexperienced.  the only common negative comment was that it really needed a thwart to be comfortable for the crew in the light stuff.  I'm not sure about that myself, but I can see the point.  Otherwise the impressions were immensely favourable.  For the helm it's a great sail; very smooth, great acceleration in a puff, relatively easy to set up and go.

It's unfortunate that Er Indoors didnt like it, otherwise I would have bought it, without doubt.  I dont rule it out as a future purchase when she has more experience.

can an Icon do that?

well yes .... and if the EN is anything to go by, and by implication at least, a tad faster as well.  The EN however is not right of course but the boat is quick enough. 

Both the Tasar and Icon are NS14 derivatives that incorporated the current thinking and hull refinements of their respective times - The Tasar was really a stretched early 70's NS ... and Icon hull was of course derived very much later  but is also stretched and for very much the same reasons.  The NS is/was a development class and the inteveening decades arguably produced quicker shapes that are both faster all round and very much faster in lighter winds.... which is exactly why it was selected as the starting point for Icon.  

We have come up against a couple of decent 300's at some of the Sailjuice events and on most points seemed to be of similar speed - well perhaps between a Phantom and 300 would be more accurate if down to hair splitting.   Anyway not too shabby for a 2-sail boat not developed round a 'speed at any cost' model - it is just very nice to sail, simple, light and forgiving and that was the whole point... good speed was the bonus.

But of course we are just horribly biased ...  iiitick - try one out yourself if you get a chance and if you don't get the opportnunity talk to the CA who can usually arrange a loan.   Or perhaps try/borrow my own one...  'The 'Dancing Farmer' is doing farming sort of things at this time of year so I'm back in the singlehander for a month or two anyway ..... 

Mike L.