I spent many, many days in my early years sailing and racing aboard a Tartan 27. In those days, our family of five plus a crew would sail overnight to a regatta, race for two days and then sail overnight home. All on a 27-footer.
So, it is a real event in my life when Tartan designer and impresario Tim Jackett announces that a new, small Tartan is coming. The new Tartan 335 that he has designed, promises to embody all of the qualities that has made the builder a national treasure, an American original with character, classic style and true sailing grit.
In his Designer’s Comments, Tim notes: “Tartan designs embrace contemporary North American styling, state of the art materials and boat building practices. Just the right amount of spring to the sheer line, a purposeful bow profile and a classic transom, complimented by a deckhouse and cockpit coamings with sweet sweeping lines are some of the key design cues that are unmistakably Tartan.”
But her look is not the whole story. For years Tartan has built their hulls and deck with vacuum infused, all-epoxy composite technology that makes the structures light but almost immortal under normal circumstances. Tartans might be thought of as family heirlooms that can be passed from generation to generation.
With all-carbon masts and booms, the Tartan rigs are lighter than aluminum and therefore enhance the stability of the hulls and reduce pitching motion in a head sea. All good things.
The cockpit is set up for a couple but the 335 will be a cinch for a lone watchkeeper to manage alone. And, if you want to bash around a race course on a Tuesday night, a crew of four or five will also have room to function.
While we used to cram up to six of us onto our Tartan 27, these days a 33-footer can be considered a couple’s boat – a couple who may deign to invite a child or two or a couple of friends for a weekend cruise. And, she’ll make a wonderful day-sailer.
Check out the new Tartan 335 drawings, specs and Designer’s Comments here.
