Tasar is an ISAF Recognized Class

The Tasar was recognized as an ISAF recognized class at the ISAF annual meeting, held in Lisbon on November 16 and 17, according to a news item on the ISAF website.

The Tasar class can now apply to hold World Championships, and can look forward to holding a World Championship in Victoria, BC in 2003.

Thanks to Frank Bethwaite, the presidents and others in the regional associations, and everyone else, who helped make this application successful.  Particular thanks to Julian Bethwaite, who stepped in and represented the Tasar class at the meeting.

Richard Spencer

Confirmation of ISAF Recognized Class status

I have now received the first direct, written confirmation from ISAF that the Tasar is an ISAF recognized class.  This came in the form of a bill for our 2002 Class subscription of £210 GBP (up 5% from last year).  (This will result in a fee of about £0.40 GBP, ¥75 JPY, $1.10 AUD, or $0.60 USD for each Tasar member around the world).

No doubt a message welcoming us into the ISAF fold, and providing information about how we can access ISAF services and support, will follow in due time.

In the mean time, it is good to know that the Tasar class has been officially  entered into the records of ISAF, even if it is only in their accounting system.

Richard Spencer

Progress with application for ISAF recognized status

The ISAF has now confirmed that our application for recognized status for the Tasar will go forward.  If granted, recognized status will allow us to once again hold World Championships.

We submitted our application on February 16.  On July 18, I received an email from ISAF Technical Manager, Simon Forbes, saying that all the  documents submitted with our application were missing, and he only had letters of support from the sailing associations in the UK and Japan.  All documents were required by July 31.  Fortunately, the Australian Yachting Federation and the Canadian Yachting Association were able to re-send copies of the letters they had sent in March to the ISAF by the deadline.  US Sailing also sent a letter of support.

I re-sent our application letter, together with the rules and constitution, and also sent a draft of an agreement required between the ISAF, the World Tasar Class Association and Frank Bethwaite, the designer and copyright holder.

The only additional documentation required by the ISAF is the construction manual, and I have asked Frank to send this to the ISAF.

The process from here on is as follows.  The Class Rules will be circulated to the ISAF Centreboard Boat Committee and Measurement Committee by the end of August. 

The ISAF Measurement Committee Working Party meets at the end of September and will provide any feedback then.

The ISAF Centreboard Boat Committee will meet 11 November 1000-1800 in Lisbon, Portugal and will make a recommendation to the ISAF Sailing Committee on Wednesday 14 November 1000 to 1800.  This will go before the ISAF Council on 16/17 November 1000 to 1800 and 1000 to 1330.

The Constitution will go to the Chairman of the Constitution Committee, who will report to the Sailing Committee meeting.  I will post more information when I have it.

Richard Spencer

Application for ISAF Recognized Status

The following letter has been sent to the ISAF.  I will post further information about the progress of our application as it becomes available.
Richard Spencer

Letter:

2001 February 16

Arve Sundheim, Secretary General
ISAF Secretariat
Aridane House
Town Quay
Southampton SO14 2AQ,
United Kingdom.

Re:  Application for ISAF Recognised Class status for the Tasar

Dear Mr. Sundheim:

On behalf of the World Tasar Class Association, and in accordance with the provisions of ISAF regulation 10.2, I am writing to ask the ISAF to designate the Tasar as an ISAF Recognised Class.

The Tasar was designed by Frank Bethwaite and Ian Bruce, and has been actively sailed in a number of countries since its introduction in October 1975.  There is extensive information on the Tasar, the World Tasar Class Association, and our class history and activities, on our website at www.tasar.org.

The Tasar Class held World Championships from 1981 to 1996.  These were sailed in Australia (4), Canada (2), England (2), Japan (1) and the United States (1).  In 1997 you advised us that we "should meet the requirements of ISAF Recognised Status, in order to be permitted to hold a World Championship."  The Tasar meets these requirements.

I am enclosing with this application:

(i)         The application fee of £750.

(ii)        A copy of the Tasar Class Rules, reformatted to conform to the ISAF standard class rules format and the provisions and terminology of the Equipment Rules of Sailing.

(ii)        A copy of the Constitution and By Laws of the World Tasar Class Association, amended to reflect the changes in the reformatted Class Rules.

The number of Tasars actively racing around the world is approximately as follows:

Australia                                250
Canada                                    28
Japan                                     109
United Kingdom                        97
United States                           32

The Tasar Class Associations in each country is asking their Member National Authority to confirm these numbers to the ISAF.

As noted above, we have reformatted our Class Rules to conform to the requirements of the ISAF.  We have also made two minor numbering changes in the Constitution and By-Laws.  The reformatted rules and the revised Constitution and By-Laws have been posted on our web site for review and comment by our members.  However, the class has not formally approved either the reformatted Class Rules or the amended Constitution and By-Laws.  These will be taken to the class membership for formal approval when we have been advised that they are satisfactory to the ISAF.  As there are no changes in the meaning of the rules or constitution, I am confident that the class members will approve the changes.

I have begun discussions with Frank Bethwaite, the designer and copyright holder, with a view to concluding an agreement as required by the ISAF regulation 10.3.

Please let me know if you require any additional information, and advise me of the next steps the class association should take to ensure that this application is approved by the ISAF at the earliest opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Spencer

Executive Secretary
World Tasar Class Association