I just attended the Taipan National Championships in Gulfport, Florida. (We had a fleet of A-class cats).
The Taipans are pretty light, were all sailed double-handed as sloops, a good fraction of women as crews, and they all seemed to have a good time. And...a woman skipper is going free to the Worlds in OZ. (Jennifer finished second but the winner can't go). (See Rick's report). They are smaller, lighter, have chutes too and aren't as hi tech as 18HTs.