2009 Wakayama Tasar World Championship
Pre Regatta Measurement Process
The Pre Regatta Measurement Process is aimed at having designated people available in each
Tasar Region or District to assist competitors by checking as many boats as possible prior to amajor regatta. In a specified period prior to the regatta (a maximum of 3 months before theregatta) boats will be checked for compliance with the Tasar Class Rules.
A Tasar Measurement Checklist consisting of 2 parts is to be completed. Part A is completed atthe pre regatta measurement session conducted by the Regional or District Measurer.
Completed Measurement Checklists are to be forwarded by fax or scanned and emailed toJapanese Measurer (the fax number is +81 42 522 3134 and the email address ismeasurer@tasarjapan.org). Part B of the Tasar Measurement Checklist is completed at regatta
registration.
Normal checking of boats at random from the whole fleet will occur during the worlds. If a boat isfound not to comply tasar class rules then they will be excluded from that racing session. A
committee of Regional Measurers/Measurers may be formed to adjudicate on such issues.
It must be stressed that this process correctly places the responsibility for compliance back on
individual owners. Regatta Officials, and particularly Measurers, are not meant to be the ones
responsible for ensuring competitors equipment is within the Class Rules. The Regional orDistrict Measurer's role is to organize a specific day within the set timeframe to get all intending
competitors together and complete as much as possible in a formal manner.
It is also important to understand that this checklist once complete does not ensure a boat
remains compliant, and that with any rigging changes or adjustments made, the boat mustremain compliant, ie it is the responsibility of the owner to re-check after any changes aremade.
It is accepted there will be instances where intending competitors will not have access to
Regional or District Measurers in order to complete the checklist. To address this there will belimited facilities for full measurement to be completed at registration. Our aim is to have lessthan 20% of competitors requiring full measurement.
Any checklist items that cannot be completed at the time of measuring can be marked TBA andthen must be completed later or onsite at the regatta venue. All items on Part A must becompleted before presenting at the registration desk. Checklists that have any part of thechecklist incomplete or those not signed by the owner and measurer will prevent a competitor
from registering quickly for the event.
As a guide, it is not advisable to measure boats more than 3 months out unless access tomeasuring is limited. Owners must understand that any alterations or changes after
measurement may invalidate their checklist.
It would be expected under normal circumstances that all items in Part A numbered 1-12 will becompleted prior to arriving at the regatta. Upon arrival competitors must present to theregistration desk with sails, battens and foils for their stamps to be checked and for signing ofthese items. Note that these items can only be stamped by Regional or District Measurers andfinal approval/signing for regatta use will occur at registration. This, along with skipper/crew/boatweighing will allow Part B, 13-18 to be completed and regatta registration to be finalized.

Tips For Regional or District Measurers
Item 1 -Sails
It is advisable to lay the sails, dacron or mylar, over a relatively new set. They should be near
identical in dimension. There are no set dimensions but if as a guide all seams do not line up orappear different by more than say 10mm, then further investigation is required. Stamps to beplaced on the starboard side on the tack reinforcing.
Check numbers/letters are fitted in the right location. For a World Championship Regatta all
mainsails must carry National letters (JPN, AUS, etc). For dacron sails, numbers are above andletters are below 4th batten from the head, 300mm high x 200mm wide, spacing of approx
50mm and no closer than 60mm to a sail edge. Starboard side uppermost. For mylar sails,
letters are above and numbers are below 4th batten from the head, 300mm high x 200mm wide,
spacing of approx 50mm and no closer than 60mm to a sail edge. Starboard side uppermost.
Leech take-up on dacron sails - no more than 150mm of altered seam and 200mm of stitchingfrom the leech. Any piercing of the sail other than for repairs, repositioning batten ends andprotectors against shroud rubbing is not allowed. Quickly inspect all seams/edges.
Be mindful that Interpretations 35 and 36 allow re-adjustment of main/jib leech tapes andreplacement of jib battens on mylar sails. There may be stitching present at these points only
but it will be limited to what is in these interpretations.
Jibs may have a cleat fitted at the tack.
On the checklist Part A, sails can only be stamped by the Regional or District Measurer andmust be signed off at regatta registration.
As many sails as requested can be checked/stamped at regional or district measuring. The sails
are only stamped, not signed at this stage. At registration one set, including up to 2 jibs, arepresented for checking of stamps and signing. These stamped and signed sails are the only
ones that can be used at the regatta.
Item 2 - Foils
There is no set profile other than a diagram used in 1985. Use a known, genuine, near new
fibreglass set. All foils must be substantially within this profile. Any measurement outside/inside
this by more than 10mm requires further checking and should not be passed. Wear and tear on
older timber foils can cause measurement variation. The only solution is to build up the edges
with fibreglass.
Foils that pass can be stamped, but not signed, by the Regional or District Measurer. Stamp therudder on the starboard side below the stock, centerboard on the starboard side below thehandle near the top of the board.
Item 3 - Hull Weight Correctors
Correctors must be securely fixed inside the hull - normally around the centreboard case orthwart pedestal but cannot be just taped in place. Digital photographs of correctors may betaken at the regatta for future reference.
Item 4 - Whisker Pole
Total length including beaks and fittings is 2038mm. Material may be alloy, wood or FRP.
Carbon fibre is not permitted. The pole must float.

Item 5 - Forestay Measurement
It is important for sailors to recognize that it is easy to break this rule especially with some of thenew adjustable forestays used with mylar sails. Once measured owners must be advised thatunless they are aware of exactly the effects an adjustment will make to this measurement, not toalter it. Forestay changes, including adding shackles, adjustable fittings at the top, etc, can all
easily put a boat outside the legal limit. A new, same length forestay should be approximately
5mm shorter than the one it replaces, to allow for any stretch.
Rig the boat and lay it on its side. Pull the stays back so they are under some tension, ie
remove all play in the rigging. Place the rotation arm in the central position with the hounds
facing forward. Measure from the foredeck - level to and next to the bow fitting to the lower
bearing point of the shackle pin at the hounds fitting.
Item 6 - Hounds To Deck Measurement
Still with the boat on its side - measure from the fibreglass foredeck next to the mast step (notfrom the step itself) to the bearing point of the shackle pin at the hounds fitting. Be aware that alarge amount of rig tension will compress and bend the mast, shortening this measurement.
Have enough rig tension on to take the play out of the rig but no more to avoid this. Also notethat if a new spacer or step washer is fitted there will be some packing down over time andallowance for this must be considered. Wear and tear on the mast washer will shorten thismeasurement. Hence avoid measuring too many months away from the event.
For a new spacer setting allow 6-8mm (3726-8mm) and recheck after a dozen or more outings.
For a mast step washer allow approx 2mm packing down.
Item 7 - Mainsheet Strop Measurement
Measure from bearing point to bearing point of the strop itself, not including any shackles, etc.
Measurement should be a minimum of 240mm. Strops may be of Spectra, etc and fitted above
or below the pulleys.
Item 8 - Shroud Pullbacks
With the shroud slides all the way forward pull the handles straight back along the track.
Measure from the aft most point of the metal track to the bearing point of the knot in whatever
type of handle is used. Maximum length of the pullback is 150mm.
A direct 2:1 pulley system can now be used but the method of measurement for the line length
is the same.
Item 9 - Hounds To Top Of Jib Measurement
For dacron sails only. Measure from the very top point of the jib to the bearing point of theshackle pin at the hounds fitting. Be aware that if the adjustment line has been freshly tied it will
stretch several millimetres during use, so allow for this.
Item 10 - RCB Shroud Tracks
The distance between the bow U bolt and the forward track end bolt hole, measured at deck
level, shall be a minimum of 2125mm and a maximum of 2135mm. Car travel must not exceed
140mm.

Item 11 - Centreboard Case PaddingMust be flexible, front and back, ie not filled or solid. Carpet on sides where board goes throughmust be one piece only, either side, top and bottom - 4 pieces in total.
Item 12 - Topmast Stiffener
As per the Class Rules, a topmast stiffener (as standard in Australian TASARS) is required.
Item 13 - Topmast Support
As per the Class Rules, the top mast shall be supported on an insert located and supported by
the upper diamond bolt and having the same cross section as the top mast sleeve
Item 14 - Crew Weight
Dry weight in light clothing, ie ideally weighed in just shorts/shirt with no shoes.
At registration a calibrated set of scales will be available to record crew weights and use of thisfor recording of official weights is advisable.
Ensure for any pre regatta weighing the scales used are checked with a known weight. If close
to 130kg and 3 months out from the regatta it is advisable that the crews use this as a guide
only and monitor their own weight.
Item 15 - Hull Weight Including Correctors
Check tanks are dry, any fitted bags are empty, sponges, drink bottles, sheets removed or heldup. Anything normally fixed to the hull, ie compasses/hatch covers/furlers, etc remain in.
Any sign of moisture - do not weigh it. It is only putting the owner at risk if a damp boat isweighed.
Item 16 - Crew Weight Ballast
If crew weight ballast is required then it must be fixed securely around the centerboard case orthwart pedestal.
Item 17 - Battens
Only one set of battens can be used for a particular event, no substitution after registration isallowed unless approved by the Race Committee. Battens must all be FRP, solid, may betapered/untapered but must not be altered in shape/weight once registered.
Further Notes
Replacement Equipment
Tasar Class Rule C.2.1.c refers to equipment replacement after measurement during an event.
Basically no item can be replaced, including sheets, ropes, spars, foils, tiller or fittings, etc
without Race Committee approval. If any item is damaged or wears out then it can be replaced
but a letter must be submitted prior to use. Failure to do this may result in disqualification.

This is not commonly known and should be highlighted. Any suspect items should be replaced
prior to an event.
The Intent of the Pre Regatta Measurement Process
The intent of the Pre Regatta Measurement Process is to highlight the competitor's
responsibility to ensure their boat complies with all the Tasar Class Rules. Any changes oralterations made after measurement may invalidate the checklist. If boats are measured sometime out from an event there is a risk that inadvertent changes may make the boat incompliant.
Encouragement is needed for owners to become more familiar with the rules and assume this
responsibility for themselves, ie do their own checking so that checklists and post race
measurement checks become a stress free formality.
Post Race Measurement Checks
Measurement checks are made on the basis of random selection and include all levels ofcompetition. Skippers and crew should seek to understand the post race directions in order tomake this a quick and relatively easy process.
Selected competitors will be greeted on arrival back at the harbor. Sails may be dropped but
must be left attached to halyards. Skipper and or crew must be with the boat at all times. Movethe boat immediately to the inspection area and allow full access by officials to the boat,
assisting where required. A selection of measurements will be conducted which differ from dayto day. The boat may only be removed from the inspection area and fully unrigged whenreleased by the measurement official.
In addition to the set checks an allover visual inspection may be done and extra items checked.
A failure on any item on the regatta checklist will result in loss of points for all races in thatsession. Any other item discovered may be referred to a sub committee of Regional Measurers
including the Chief Measurer for adjudication and possible subsequent forwarding to the Race
Committee. All decisions on measurement issues will be final and not open for appeal.
The Post Race Measurement Inspection Sheet contains a comments section where anythingout of the ordinary can be noted. Noting an item on this checklist even if it is subsequently fixedis helpful for rechecking later. It may also serve to raise an alert to various added/extended
functions that might be creeping into the class and trigger future timely reminders to be sent to
the Tasar community via websites, etc.
Any problems encountered with the Pre Regatta Measurement Process, queries etc can bedirected to either myself or World Measurer. Our contact details are listed below.

Japanese Measurer

World Measurer

Tomoyuki Miyashita
measurer@tasarjapan.org

Graham Hanna
grahamhanna@bigpond.com