Proposal to drop the 130kg rule "C.6 Crew Weight"

 総会の決定を受けて、Proposal to drop the 130kg rule "C.6 Crew Weight"をJTAよりWTCに提出しました。

Proposal to drop the 130kg rule "C.6 Crew Weight"

Japan Tasar Association

 

We all know that there will be ideal weight range for light weight dinghies. if you are heavy side you will be faster in heavy wind range if you are light you will be faster in light wind with wavy condition. Ideal range weighed teams will have more chance to win multi race
regattas anyway.......where you face various conditions normally. Rule C.6 ONLY sacrifice light weight crew team as there will be no penalty for heavy weighed crew teams (they are equally or have more advantage in heavy wind range being heavy compared to light weighted teams have advantage in light wind condition) .  In Japan, the National Championship was held without applying the rule C.6 for the last two years. In the overall result, no team under 130kg had the high position. Even though there are cases in which lightweight teams have relatively high results at individual races in light wind conditions, there are no obvious advantages for them throughout the series. Some over 140kg teams finished first even in light wind races. Due to rule C.6, two serious risks are imposed on only light weighted teams. Naturally,sailors lose weight during the race. Therefore, sailors carrying the ballasts to cope with crew weights usually carry some additional ballasts for that. When they lose more weight than expected, especially during long races in hot weather, they can be disqualified by a result of a spot measurement after the race. The other risk is more serious and concerns the safety of the boat and the sailors. Tasar is not designed to carry ballasts. Ballasts are secured around the center case or  thwart in many cases. It is doubted that 12kg ballasts can be safely carried especially in rough conditions. When a boat is overturned, the ballast could come off, cause injuries to sailors, and/or damage to the boat. While teams weighing over 130kg can focus on sailing, lightweight teams are stressed by the risks and extra preparation.

Tasar class should drop the 130kg rule in order to be more attractive to various sailors not only in Japan but worldwide. This amendment is indispensable for Tasar class for its development.

Tomoyuki Miyashita

President of JTA

26 April 2022