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Martin
Linsley
This
article is based on notes prepared by Martin Linsley for a seminar in Japan
in 1991. It appeared in a NATA
Newsletter in Spring 1993, reprinted (with some minor editing) from two
Australian Tasar newsletters. Martin was 3rd in the 1986 Tasar Worlds.
Preparing
a Tasar
Tasars are well designed and an old one can win against a new one. However some small changes to the standard boat can improve boat speed. The effects are very small, but easy to achieve. Some of the small things that can achieve better results from the Tasar, with a score out of 10, are as follows:
Hull
finish: smooth, clean,
polished; a good feel about the boat - 4/10
Foil
finish: smooth, clean,
polished; may have lines to indicate how far down the board should go - 5/10
Soft
wedge: fill gap in
centreboard case to reduce turbulence - ?/10
Firm
foil fit: carpet should
allow a firm fit; avoid vibration/turbulence - 6/10
Shroud
pull back: easy
adjustment; allows tighter shrouds - 6/10
Shroud
length adjuster: easier
adjustment (and finer) - 1/10
Harken
jib cleats: better
operation - 1/10
Harken
main cleats: better
operation - 1/10
V
jam batten ends: allows
easier, quicker and finer adjustments; line may be marked for average
tension - 4/10
Wind
direction indicator:
Windex: durable; feather: works well: home made: cheap - 7/10
Compass:
big, damped, easy to read: e.g. Silva Racing - 9/10
Main
ratchet block: useful in
heavy wind, particularly upwind; most of the top helms use (although I
haven’t yet!) - 4/10
Springs
for turning blocks:
prevents blocks failing in track - 2/10
Small
diameter main sheet:
less friction, smoother (6-7mm) - 2/10
No
‘bird cage’ and free traveler line:
quicker operation - 3/10
Traveler
line diameter: thick for
comfort (or gloves) - 2/10
Jib
sheet diameter: thinner
for ease of cleating and less weight, esp. in light winds - 2/10
Course
card: if in doubt! -
?./10
Protest
flag: be ready! -
!10/10!
Piston
fitting on jib pole:
ensure it stays attached; may have release line; a ring at jib clew for
piston is useful - 5/10
Good
sails: firm leech; shape
should be good (a surprising number of top sailors purchase new sails for
major championships) - 9/10
Carry
a sponge: to remove
excess water from inside boat.
Importance
of Modifications
Because
of the one-design nature and quality of fittings on the Tasar, all the
adjustments make only very small differences in boat speed: I guess at
maximum 2% (+ 2% for sail condition)
Note:
A greater gain can be made from the attitude of the crew who cares
about such things, and is looking for any possible improvement however
small. This attitude is more important than the small difference minor
adjustments might make.
Crew
Weight
The
minimum Tasar crew limit is 130kg. Weighing less is disadvantaged by
carrying useless ballast. Weighing more is increasingly bad (except as the
wind increases above 15 knots) and the chances of winning with more than
150kg are getting slim.
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