Report from Todd Blumel, NATA Measurer, to the Tasar World
Council
In North American we've continued with our program of measurement
and information. This approached has resulted in many of the Tasar
owners checking their own boats to make sure they are with in
the rules. This has been a very successful approach as evident at
the recent North American Championships when every boat measured in
on the first try. Over the last couple of years this approach of
measuring did find two problems, some how there were a number of
whisker pole that we cut approximately 50 mm too long and some fore
stay were made 76.20 mm too long as well. Both problems were easily
corrected at the source. Even though the North American Tasar
Association has not been enforcing the strop length rule only 16
boats were found to have a strop length in excess of 10 inches. The
fleet statistics are as follows: Average unbalasted hull weight
146.8lbs or 66.6 kg Max unbalasted hull weight 165 lbs or 74.8 kg
Min unbalasted hull weight 136 lbs or 61.6 kg.
Windowed main project (link to photo
of window)
This project was started as a result of a number of near
collisions between boats, in almost every case the lack of
visibility for the skipper was a contributing factor. Also many of
the people who where new to the Tasar commented on the idea of
installing a window like may of the other classes of boats they had
sail before. The idea kept coming up so after some discussion about
the best location for a window it was decided to try it and see if
the objective of better visibility would be realised. The test
began when John Evetts of Alvis marine donated a used main sail and
UK Sails installed the window as per our specifications. Over the
past year a test sail was distributed through the NATA for people
to try and develop an opinion. To date the opinion of those that
have used the sail has been extremely positive. There has been some
discussion as to the exact location of the window it has become
clear that a window in the main did improve the visibility for both
the skipper and crew. If it is decided that a window in the main
will be allowed I feel the following guild lines should be
used.
1) It must be possible to install the window in existing main
sails
2) The cost should be relatively inexpensive ($100 Canadian or
Less)
3) The material used should be the best available at this
time.
4) The one design principals of Tasar must be adhered to, in other
words all the windows must be the same world wide.
Todd Blumel, NATA Measurer
August 21, 2001
(return to
the minutes of the World Council meeting)