TELSTAR 8M

Notes: The TELSTAR was designed and built by Tony Smith in Britain from the early 70's through about 1980. \nThe UK TELSTAR production was somewhere around 200 boats - first there was the TELSTAR 26 and around 1977 the TELSTAR 8m, which featured a fatter/roomier main hull. There was also a TELSTAR 35 and a version of the 8m which had outer hulls which pulled in close to the main hull while the boat was in the water, but few were built. Tony emigrated to the US and set up Performance Cruising in Maryland. There may have been 10 TELSTARS built in the US in late 1980 to mid-1981 (serial numbers 250 through 259 or 260). The factory burned down in mid-1981, and all molds were lost (Tony started building the GEMINI catamarans after the fire).\n\n\nType Year Hull #s LOA Sail Area Weight Comments \n \nPrototype 1970 001 26' 298 ? Entered Crystal Trophy \n \nMK 1 1970-1975 002 - 080 26' 340 3500 Std boat. In production 3 years.\n \nMK 2 1976-1977 083 - 171 26' 300 2800 Floats lengthened? \n \nMarina\nVersion 1978-1979 009 & 187 ? ? ? Folding amas.\n \nMk 3 1978-1979 172 - ? 8m ? ? Enclosed c/b trunk. Wider center hull.\n \n8 meter\n(Std) 1978-1980 172-216 8m ? ? Standard 8meter. Heavier than later versions.\n \n8 meterE 1980 184 + 8m 285/320 ? Economy lightweight. Tall rig (34')\n \n8 meter/Std 1981 250-260 8m ? ? Standard boat produced in USA.\n \nT 36 1978 T35 (1 - 8) 35' 470 11000 \n\nA new TELSTAR 26 is now available from:\n\nPerformance Cruising Inc.\n7364 Edgewood Road\nAnnapolis,Maryland 21403\n410.626.2720\n<A HREF="http://www.geminicatamarans.com">www.geminicatamarans.com</A>