Tasar

Hi all, anyone any experience with sailing a Tasar?

I'm looking for a boat to sail with my other half over the winter, effectively teaching her how to sail. Because of this, I don't think I want a kite boat, but I'm still considering a Scorp or a Lark if I change my mind.

I've been told by the other half 'I want to sail a cool looking boat like a 200' - this effectively rules out an Ent and Alb (I wonder how many others have been put off sailing by the image of a boat???). Sadly, with only a 2K budget the 200 is out of reach. I would be very tempted by a NS14, if only you could buy them over here 2K secondhand. I have though of asking the I14 boys to put me one in their container if there's space available while out in AUS for their worlds, but I do't think I could afford the 'postage'. A N12 just doesn't appeal in the same way I have to say, I just feel too big sat in one or stood next to it. There's something about a longer boat, the way it just slips along effortlessly to windward.

We will be sailing on a relativly small shifty pond, most probably in lighter winds, with an all up crew weight of 130kg.

This brings my train of thought back round to the Tasar. Anyone any thoughts or advice with the Tasar? How does it sail to its PY? It must be one of the few boats I've not seen win one of the big winter events.

Anyone think of a class I missed thats worth considering?


The more I think about this, the more I see a real gap in the market for a modern looking 2 man hiking boat in the UK, about 14 - 16 foot long, designed with a crew weight of 120-145kg with no wood, transom mainsheets or any other old fashion elements, and a PY of 950 - 1020ish. Yes you could argue the ent, alb, grad etc have a very strong position, but I'm sure I'm not the only one in the country after a modern equivelent?

Tasar is a good boat; if you want to make you wife give up sailing then learning over the winter is a good plan ... otherwise what is wrong with the summer?

Originally posted by Garry Try the new Lark by Ovi! You don't have to put the kite up and I've found that unless its really windy or the reaches tight I can talk a raw beginner through it and after one race they're proficient enough.  Difficult thing about spinnakers in all the dinghies I've sailed is the helm giving the crew a stable platform to work from, crack that and the rest is just practice. If you can't get a Lark then the Tasar is a great boat. Garry

Is the new ovi lark £2k then??

Rick, Charlies girlfriend will be alight in the winter, she is irish so is used to the cold and wet.   She has sailed a fair ammount with Charlie in the past and i doubt he will give her a dunking in a boat like a taser!  Charlie a Taser looks like its the boat for you fella!

In my opinion the Tasar is very hard to sail to yardstick on a shifty pond, they have a low PY so are expected to be faster than things like Larks and 200s but IMHO they will only perform to handicap if you have lots of fetch type legs on your typical courses and only then in wind over 15mph so you can plane. I race against Tasars on my small shifty pond and beat them on the water in a Laser!

IMHO for doing well to yardstick on a small shifty pond you needs a hard chined boat, this ensures that when you get a puff you use the extra wind to go forward rather than sideways. In boats like Lasers (and I assume Tasars) when you get a puff you go sideways first before going forwards. Things like Ents, Grads and Phantoms do well on my puddle.

What are the main classes on your lake? Can you not get one of them? Your other half will learn quicker and enjoy it more if you are racing with others on even terms, she will appreciate that the bad tack you just did cost you a place, in a handicap race she wont notice.

 

Charlie, I'm suprised given where you used to sail, that you havnt considered a Scorpion.

As you well know they go really well on small shifty lakes like Elton SC.

If your other half is competent enough that you'd consider teaching her how to crew a 200 (if you had the cash) then I'm sure she'd pick up the symmetric kite skills no problem. Reasonable 2nd hand Scorps are around for £2kish.

Paul

Edited by craiggo