Minutes of the World Council meeting held at Cascade Locks, August 12, 2013 at 7:00 PM.
Present:
World Council Members
|
Name |
Region |
Position |
|
Tony Norris |
North America |
President, WTCA |
|
Graham Hanna |
Australia |
Chief Measurer |
|
Francois Hebert |
North America |
President NATA |
|
Jeremy Hawkins |
UK |
Chair, TAUK |
|
Haruyuki Yamamoto |
Japan |
President, JTA |
|
Michael Paynter |
Australia |
President, ATC |
|
Julian Bethwaite |
Australia |
Copyright Holder |
|
Richard Spencer |
North America |
Life Member, WTCA |
|
Chris Parkinson |
Australia |
Executive Secretary, WTCA |
|
Regrets |
||
|
Pete Ellis |
UK |
Past President, WTCA |
|
Observers |
|||
|
Name |
Region |
Name |
Region |
|
Tim Murphy |
North America |
Yoji Ishikawa |
Japan |
|
Constantijn Udo |
Europe |
Afsushi Inoue |
Japan |
|
Elizabeth Kemmis |
Australia |
Helen Spencer |
North America |
|
Mayuko Yamazaki |
Japan |
Julian Hannaboss |
North America |
|
Beryl Parkinson |
Australia |
Thila Giese |
North America |
|
Trevor Davis |
North America |
Ikuya Tanaka |
Japan |
|
Tatsuya Karube |
Japan |
Jonathon McKee |
North America |
|
Alistair Murray |
Australia |
Molly Jackson |
North America |
|
Michael Karas |
North America |
George Yioulos |
NA Builder |
|
Philip Gordon |
North America |
Yohei Ikede |
Japan |
|
Katsumi Watanabe |
Japan |
Fred E Nemeth |
North America |
|
Yoshaiki Nojima |
Japan |
Robin Olsen |
Australia |
|
Lloyd Lissiman |
Australia |
Fiona Lissiman |
Australia |
|
John Balass |
Australia |
Heather Forton |
Australia |
|
Shane Guanaria |
Australia |
Stu Templeton |
Australia |
|
Nicole Kidman |
Australia |
Chuck Asper |
North America |
1. Introductions and welcome
Tony Norris took the chair and introduced those present.
2. Agenda
The Agenda was adopted.
3. Minutes
The Meeting of the World Council meeting of September 19, 2011, as posted on the web, were approved.
4. President's report.
Tony Norris presented the WTC President's Report 2013
5. Regional reports
Europe & TAUK. Jeremy Hawkins presented a written report
Australia. Michael Paynter presented a written report.
North America. Francois Hebert presented a written report
Japan. Haruyuki Yamamoto presented two written reports, one on the Carbon Mast Design and the other JTA Re-Thinking the Tasar. Copies of both reports are attached.
Haru also reported on the activities of the JTA and the Japanese Championships over the last 2 years.
6. Executive Secretary's report. Chris Parkinson presented a written report.
7. Copyright Holder's report. Julian Bethwaite presented his report.
Julian said that it was a difficult position to follow his father and that he only saw this as custodian roll while his mother was still around. He said that Nell sent a welcome to all Tasar sailors of the World and that she would like to thank Richard Spencer and Jonathon McKee for their help with Frank's last book. Julian also thanked Graham Hanna for his work with the Class over many years. He also thanked Yamamoto son for his outstanding effort in coming to Australia for his father's funeral. Julian informed the meeting that the local council had recently renamed the road to the Northbridge Sailing Club 'Bethwaite Lane' in recognition of Frank and Nell's contribution to sailing.
8. Chief Measurer's report. Graham Hanna presented his written report.
9. Proposed Rule Changes: There were no rule changes proposed.
10. Site of the next World Championships.
2015: Michael Paynter, ATC, confirmed that the 2015 World Championships in Australia would be held at Geographe Bay (south of Perth), WA from January 2nd to 9th 2015. A detailed presentation on the event was given at the mid regatta function.
2016/17: Haruyuki Yamamoto, JTA confirmed that Japan was prepared to host this event.
11. Other business.
Asia/Pacific Worlds Venue - ATC
Michael Paynter proposed an extra championship in the Asia/Pacific region, most likely in New Zealand to promote the Class there. The regatta would be held after the Worlds in Japan. The event would have a different format to the usual Tasar events however it would still be open to all. The format of this regatta would be a 'round robin' series of races with a limited number of boats including a Medal race day on the final day to determine the Open Champion. The boats would be provide by the organizers and would most probably be sold off after the event.
Michael Paynter moved, seconded by Chuck Asper, that Australia run an International regatta most probably in New Zealand following the Japanese Worlds.
Carried Regatta items 2015 Worlds - WATA Robin Olsen, WATA and PRO 2015 Worlds, spoke on the issues raised in the paper, attached. It was the view of the meeting that the reasonability for organizing the event is delegated to the event organizing committee and they do what is best suited to the venue and local requirements.
Carbon fibre mast / Re-Thinking the Tasar
Considerable discussion followed on these combined items.
Julian Bethwaite: 3 or 4 pronged approach Option Zero; - Do nothing
Option A; - No carbon rig but alter things on the hull to reduce costs - Get rid of the Hand Holds - Move the hiking strap cleats on to the hiking straps - Change the thwart strut - Use the 29er rudder stock with FRP rudder - Jib Halyard replace uphaul with downhaul
Option B; - New Carbon Mast - same sails - Mast price will be similar to existing mast provided that we get rid of the diamonds and rotation spanner - changing the sails - wholesale change - changing the structure and shape of the sails - minor changes eg moving the luff curve 1 or 2 mm on existing sails will need to add a control batten pocket for automatic mast rotation - will probably be a reduction in crew weight as rig will be half the weight of existing rig - minor changes to vang and maybe increasing the downhaul
Option C; - New Mast and New Sails - Why new sails? Crew weight will probably come down if you do not alter the sail. - it could be as simple as adding a square head - new sail material technology available in China that could lead to cheaper sails from heavier material with less sticky back that would last longer
Carbon boom is not on the agenda at this time.
Alistair Murray - long term Tasar owner and passionate Tasar sailor Observations from this meeting UK - new boats not selling - ageing demographic Australia - some signs of decline North America - struggling to gain traction - 5 new boats in last 18 months Japan - declining boat sales and high costs Europe - most people in the sailing industry do not know what a Tasar is NZ - 1 or 2 boats - is a sailing country Tasar should be well established there by now
Every product/boat has a life cycle and the Tasar is over the top and on the way down, it is in decline. The only thing stopping this is the strength of the Tasar in Australia, it one of the strongest dinghy classes there but it has not gained what it should have Internationally. He likes what he sees here in the Pacific northwest but it is only a pocket. In the UK it is struggling against more advanced modern dinghies that are selling big numbers. We are down to 10 to 20 new boats out of Indonesia per year for the World.
We need to embrace change, the mylar sails was an easy one, it was the best thing that we have done in a long time. It was difficult for people but it was really easy comparatively. The possible future changes as outlined by Julian could be and will be more difficult.
Lets have the vision to take the risk to implement the changes that will make the boat more appealing to a much bigger group with price being a major factor in that decision. He would like to see the Tasar be more modern, a better boat, for considerably less cost and being embraced by thousands of people around the World and that is the only way the Tasar will go again as a Class as without it we are going to see death.
Michael Paynter - ATC President - author of the paper Re-Thinking the Tasar Time has moved on since the paper was written outlining the options. Since that time the Australian Tasar districts have said that they are not interested in a new boat, the things that were talked of open transoms, no thwart, they could not support that. As ATC President I am not putting that forward because that is what the Australian people in their districts, in their committees, in their clubs have said that this is beyond them. What we are hearing tonight is quite different in relation to the hull. That is modest evolutionary change which the Australian community would support. They would not support a brand new Class.
Two years ago the WTC supported the design and trial by the Designer of Carbon Fibre Spars, the big change now of what is being proposed is a sensible, necessary change to the sails as well. 2 years ago we thought it was a step too far to change the sails at the same time as the mast. Now we are saying that if we are going to have a new mast and a new sail that will take away all those things that are a pain now. This is the big step we have made in 2 years.
Richard Spencer - Life Member, WTCA One could imagine a contemporary two person off-the-beach dinghy, designed by people like Julian with input from people like Alistair, that would be a completely different boat from a Tasar that would start a new life cycle and would be extremely successful with a group of sailors some of whom might be current Tasar sailor and some may not. However that is not our issue, our issue is what is going to prolong the life cycle of the Tasar. That issue is not primarily about replacing certain parts like the rudder, it is should we move to a new mast and the question there is if we did that would it extend the life cycle further than if we did not do that. That is the question we need to focus on.
Lloyd Lissiman - Australia Why do we need bigger sails?
Julian Bethwaite: History tells us that when you reduce the weight of the rig you reduce the weight of the crew
Shane Guanaria - Australia From his experience and with some input from Julian he feels that you could replace the top panels of the existing main with a new panel .28 sq m larger.
Jonathon McKee - USA The situation in North America is fundamentally different, certainly different to Australia and maybe Japan and other places in the World. What has caused the resurgence of the Tasar in North America in the last few years is the fact that there is a supply of cheap used boats and that has allowed people to come in as they have become very financially accessible. That is why the Class is relatively strong compared to the last few years. He is talking about buying boats for $3000 each.
Chuck Asper - USA Do you have any idea, if we switch to a new rig, how will affect performance?
Julian Bethwaite 0 to 8 knots you are not going to go any faster but you will point higher. A square top main will reduce drag upwind
Chuck Asper - USA If this happens what happens to boats with the old equipment at events like this? This must be spelt out in the Class Rules.
Julian Bethwaite The way this was done in the 49er Class and it worked moderately well is that you set a date, the soonest this could be is about 3 years out. To simply say to be scored in the top 20 of the Championship you must comply. That means anyone could come to the World Championships and sail.
Philip Gordon - USA Thinks it is a little dangerous to put a sailing boat in the same category as cell phones and ipads in regard to product life cycle. The cool thing about boats is that they have longevity. The Tasar is unique in that it has men and women together and thinks that you will notice a 5 degree improvement in pointing and a tenth of a knot in speed. It will kill the Class having a Carbon mast.
Tatsuya Karube - JTA Measurer At the last WTC meeting there was the motion regarding the Carbon mast. What is the status of that now?
Exec Sec. Frank was working through the design process however this came to a halt with his death last year. He was working to the criteria set out with the WTC motion Julian has now taken up the process and he is of the view that it would be better to change the sails at the same time.
Jeremy Hawkins - UK In the UK there was a debate about this as far as the Tasar was concerned when the Tasar 2 paper came out. At the moment they are not selling new boats, the market is dead. The same thing as is happening here in NA is happening in the UK. The £500, £1000, £2000 boats are all selling and finding new homes quickly. When you turn up to an event like this and you see boat number 505 at the front of the fleet winning 3 races. It is a great testament to the one design boat to see it competing against new boats. He would like to see the Tasar with a Carbon rig as he thinks it is the only way the Class will move on and in the UK the Tasar needs something to kick off the market. The price has to come down, you have to have a reason to take the market. He think the Tasar with a revised hull, hand holds, 29er stock etc, reduce the coat of the build, carbon fibre mast with the current sail plan. Reduce the overall costs Then promote it, it is never advertised. The Tasar needs a reason to bring it back into the market place.
Haruyuki Yamamoto - Japan Only his personal option. A Tasar with a new carbon rig would appeal to the younger people The Tasar is very special, unique. It is not really about performance. "I have a wife but next new beautiful and cheaper wife comes along, I want to change but I can not."
Stu Templeton - Australia We need to separate the two aspects, performance related change and functional changes that would be cost affective. Then get the broader Tasar community to discuss and let the WTC know what they want.
Julian Bethwaite His expectation would be that the new mast would be cheaper. His expectation would be that the new sails would be cheaper. He does not think it is an issue of performance verses cheapness it is change verse no change.
Richard Spencer He thinks the Class should contemplate what might happen should the Class choose not to change. Already some unique to Tasar fittings are in short supply and are now more expensive to manufacture. The continue supply of these items will be critical to longevity of the Class.
Michael Paynter proposed, Richard Spencer seconded, the following
That the WTC support design and trials of carbon fibre spars with a new sail plan for the Tasar dinghy. That subject to a successful trial, further approvals be sought at the next WTC meeting for their introduction. That the Regions report back to the Exec Sec of the views of their members on this within 3 months. Also, their views on the proposed changes to the hull
Carried
12. Election of Officers.
The following were elected:
President - Michael Paynter, ATC Vice President - Haruyuki Yamamoto, JTA
13. Appointment of Officers
Chief Measurer - Michael Karas, NATA Executive Secretary - Chris Parkinson, ATC
The meeting closed at 10 pm.