Hi! everyone,

Almost 1 year has passed since Melbourne. Time flies, indeed. Has lovely dear sea breeze come back to Port Philips already? In North hemisphere, as it's getting cold, people in NATA, UK and Europe see severe winter and can't to sail for a while, I think. Fortunately, at some area in Japan, it is not so cold that some earnest people keep sailing in winter. They look forward to sailing with you at the lake HAMANA-KO. In this season, we usually have northern wind over 20 knots around the lake.    People can enjoy planing but it's too cold to make smile, I guess.

Arrangement for the Internationals is getting into stride.   With luck, monthly serial report about TASAR has been accepted by Japanese major sailing magazine "KAZI" . JTA expect that Tasar would be known to many sailors and spreading more and more. In actual fact, Tasar has been arousing Japanese sailor's interest. The boats received from Australia are sold out at once. I think Takao have a lot of order slips.

Frank, please build more Tasar for Japanese! (it's only joke. Takao will make an order). Then I'd like to ask you to help us. If you have attractive photos or any information or news of your region, please let me know.  We run short of these items.

Well, another topics;

I have a suggestion, which I have told Richard already, to keep Tasar more attractive and active boat in next century. The suggestion is making new committee to supply the same tasar. It would consist of designer, builders, chief measurer and measurer of each districts, I think. Their subjects are, for example;

1) to investigate variety and dispersion of the existing boat
2) to report the results and to find the causes
3) to set up the practical tolerance
4) to follow the builder to supply standardized Tasars

My only hope is sail the standardized and the same Tasar.   Sailing performance of this boat have given us satisfaction.  However, under this situation, many sailors don't satisfy with rule amending which seems as a stopgap. Let's find a drastic measure.

I hope we will find out the way by 2001, i.e. next UK's Worlds.

Thank you,

Regards,

Takumi Ozawa
President of JTA & WTC
December, 1998