The Tartan Ten is an older boat that is great for young professionals wanting to race competitively in one of the largest one design classes in the nation. The T-10 is great for sailors who want to keep their budgets manageable and still maintain a race-ready vessel.
A 33′ foot monohull, the T-10 is a 7/8th’s fractional rigged sloop and is well designed for both a casual family cruise and competitive racing; both offshore and around the buoys. These boats are also nice if you are limited in the number of crew members available for a regatta. The boat can easily be sailed with five to seven people in a race and when cruising don’t require more than two or three individuals. The 9’6″ cockpit allows for plenty of room for guests and the 6 foot draft allows the boat to maneuver easily in shallower water. The T-10 has a large and devoted following in the Great Lakes, especially Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. This is very often the largest class entry in the Chicago NOOD regatta and there are often upwards of 30 boats at the North American Championships each year.
In 2001 a new boat was created by Larsen boats in collaboration with Rich Sterns and SOCA boats. This new vessel has the identical hull design as the T-10 with a completely remodeled deck and cabin. This new design, called the LS-10, allows for more headroom down below and the luxuries of a newer model boat—like a real head—while still being allowed to sail in the same one design class as the classic Tartan-10.
The T-10 class association maintains rigorous standards for both the T-10’s and LS-10’s in order to keep all the boats on a level playing field. There is a weight limitation for the boat and crew at all regattas as well as strict measurements regarding sail cut and mast rake. Any infractions on these rules and standards are punished severely.
All in all, the Tartan 10, though an older boat, is still very relevant today. This is a classic boat design that allows for great one design racing. One of the best aspects of these boats is their affordability—the Tartan 10 allows for a great racing boat at a fraction of the cost of the larger boats and newer models being made today,
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