One of the last to be built Sail Number 23
Tara was the last boat built from the Ulva mould before it was destroyed and the only one with a carbon-fibre-aramid hull. She was built as Caprice V by Steve Neal in the boatshed at Tamesis and completed in May 2001. She was finished in something of a hurry for the Ossie Stewart run Caprice IV syndicate who wanted her for BEW. This accounts in part for her reduced freeboard and cockpit depth compared to others from the mould and the extensive use of softwood where hardwood would have been better. The minimum class weight is 750lb, so she carries a fair number of corrector weights thus negating the advantage of a light building material. On the other hand, the hull is strong, stiff and easy to maintain.
Caprice V moved to UTSC in 2003 when she was bought by Brian Reed, the late Patrick Walmsley and David Frost, who became the sole owner. We had previously been sailing Dainty Too and were looking for a boat which would be easier to maintain. The name was confusing and as we had no link with the other Caprice we decided after the 2004 season to rename her Tara. Film buffs and literati will know this is the name of the house in Gone With The Wind.
Ownership then passed to Danial Harrison
Tara was purchased from David Frost at the end of the 2020 season. and Danial Harrison became the Sole Owner
David maintained her very well and Danial have continued that trend, using Paul Armitage in Norfolk for the big jobs. He did a full paint job, inside and outside, over the 20/21 winter.
Over the 23/24 winter Paul replaced the whole centre board casing as the old one was rotting and swelling, making it impossible to raise and lower the centre board. This was a big job, but the boat is really stiff now and the casing will last a very long time.
She has a set of sails from 2020, and an older set that are good for 'cruising'. We also have a cut down main sail that is used when it's really windy, and/or it's a light crew!
Tara is pretty low maintenance if you keep on top of the basics, and she has a very strong hull, being made from a carbon fibre composite, rather than fibre glass.
