4.9 Cat

The simplest and purest form of the Taipan - the perfect weapon for Club and Regatta racing. The 4.9 cat combines the best of performance and durability. As happy in 8 knots as in 22, and thanks to the highly tuneable rig, it accommodates both light and heavy sailors with aplomb. Currently the largest Taipan fleet and sailed nationwide.

A recent development has been the release of the Sports (Fractional) rig, allowing comfortable yet competitive performance for the lightest and youngest (or oldest!) skippers.

Specs:

Weight fully rigged: 100kg
Length: 4.930m
Beam: 2.34m
Mast: 8.5m
Sail Area: 14sqm
Australian Sailing Yardstick: 76.5

4.9 Sloop

Take a 4.9 Cat, add a jib and crew, and hang on tight. The extra airflow over the main plus the extra righting moment makes this variant rip! But far and away its biggest asset is that it can be sailed by mixed crews and family pairings. Parent/child teams remain a strong feature of the 4.9 sloop.

Well sailed, is a little quicker than the Cat rig, but in most fleets the two duke it out through the placings. Upwind, it will outpace other larger cats with ease. Every sailor should experience a 2-on-the-wire beam reach in 20 knots in one of these!

Specs:

Weight fully rigged: 102kg
Length: 4.930m
Beam: 2.34m
Mast: 8.5m
Sail Area: 18.2sqm
Australian Sailing Yardstick: 72.5

5.7 SLOOP

Want to drag race an F18? Longer waterline, more sail and 40kg less weight - the 5.7 is a big, powerful boat that shines off the wind due to the asymmetric spinnaker. Sailed in largest numbers in SA and QLD, this beauty has power, speed and presence.

Specs:

Weight fully rigged: 142kg
Length: 5.7m
Beam: 2.55m
Mast: 9.45m
Sail Area: 23.3sqm
Australian Sailing Yardstick: 64.5