We are seriously thinking about sending the Super Taipan to Europe to do the Texel race, what other events would be good to do around the same time?

Also we are considering selling the weapon after texel, any takers??

Getting an F18 eh.... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Got one coming but that not the reason we are thinking of selling. Its a hassle to send it back to AUS and I reckon the boat will have more use in europe than we have had time for in Aust. Could count on two hands the time we have sailed it...

Mid June - Texel
Early July - ECPR

I am sure there are others too !

Not sure if/when the RIOW will take place.

Wait till about end of Jan and the full Dutch race calender will be available in PDF.

For an indication look at last years program at :

http://www.brandingsport.nl/NFB_wedstrijdkalender_2006v4.xls


Good choices are :

Texel Dutch open (week of bouy racing before round Texel itself)
NFB Kustzeilevenement
HvH Scheveningen (distance race with lots of M20's)

I can also warmly recommend :

NFB Westlandcup in weekend 29/30 july

Wouter

Macca,

Yachts & Yachting's multihull expert Jeremy Evans should be able to tell you what will be going on in Great Britain (www.yachtsandyachting.com).

What are your conclusions of the performance of the Super Taipan compared to other boats?

We have a Taipan 5.7 slightly modified with self-tacking jib and snuffer. Jimi and I are very happy with it. There is no racing class for it here in Norway, though, hence we are discussing improvements. How much faster is taller carbon mast/bigger sail and the increased width? Which of the changes from the original 5.7 do you consider made the most difference?

You once on this forum mentioned new rudders for the Super Taipan. Do they really make a big difference and which profile are they?

Personally, I consider the Taipan 5.7 one of the prettiest cats ever designed. And the 40 kg (lbs 85 !) extra weight of the F18 seems very unattractive - rather an anchronism. I am sorry that the Taipan 5.7 class was not developed and the production discontiued.

CST composites present the Super Taipan as a class. Have you been considering forming a Super Taipan class? Should be an excellent alternative to M20. Are Taipan hulls available?

Stein

The super Taipan is markedly quicker than the Tornado in conditions up to 15kts then the gap closes and at about 22ks its pretty much he same.

Most sailing is done id the 15kt and less range so as a race boat its a bit of a weapon.

The carbon mast is good from the weight point of view but its the same dimensions as the std alloy mast. The rest of the sail planis not far from std apart from the kite which has a longer luff by about 3 feet. The increae in width has been the greatest gain. The boat is so much quicker upwind once you have the hull flying. It also allows the hulls which are canted outwards to be level with the water whilst flying a hull.

The boat is totally quiet which is pretty spooky and it has so much less drag compared to the T particularly downwind. The kite sheet loads are always lighter than the T.

A Super Taipan class would be cool, but the market is just not here is OZ, but I reckon there will be a mad Euro who will ge some great use from the boat.

The Super Taipan has regular Taipan 5.7 hulls. Our 5.7 is rather quiet when we manage to sail it right. Do you think that the Super Taipan has lower drag/noise than a regular Taipan 5.7?

Or is it the rudders that make a difference? (I really would like you to comment on my previous question about the rudders).

Stein

The rudders (M20) are a good addition to the boat, they were very expensive and required some mods to get them to stay down properly but once we sorted that they are great. The steering is more positive and has a nicer feel. I doubt very much that it makes the boat faster but I am a fussy bastard so it keeps me happy <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

We have put a price on the boat if anyone is keen 11,500 Euro landed in Europe.

Macca,

Now is the time to show some pictures of this great boat for all of us to admire,
and to remind the "mad Euros" to start saving and not spend all their money on pointless X-mas gifts.
Some pictures of the S-T were posted last year, but we are always hungry for pictures of great boats.

I interpret your reply to indicate that the Taipan 5.7 hulls are responsible for "much less drag compared to the T particularly downwind". And that the M20 rudders improved steering a lot.

I wish you Good luck at Texel!

Stein

I think most of the pics I have are already on this site, but here are a few ones that are newish..

from a marathon race in Newcastle Aust.

We were pulling the rig down when the next boat crossed the line... it was an F18 <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

from a skiff and cat regatta on Sydney Harbour. These pics wer taken in the most wind we had for two days.....

Another pic from the windless regatta....

different angle

one more

my favourite pic of the boat

That's the most beautiful cat in the world. No doubt.

Macca,

Does the Super Taipan have the same mast profile as the Taipan or the Capricorn?

Stein

The mast profile is the same as the 5.7 taipan (which is also the same as the Capricorn)

The mast was made as a test to see if the 5.7 Taipan would be better with a Carbon rig, problem was that the mast was stiffer than the alloy one and this made the normal 5.7 harder to depower, but being stiffer it was perfect for the Super Taipan <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />