Tasar Worlds at Wakayama Bay, Japan - Overall

Typhoon start, gala ending

When we all arrived the area of Wakayama was feeling the effect of a typhoon, whilst it was warm and sunny it was blowing hard and we all had to struggle to stand.

The 2009 Tasar World Championships hosted by JTA Wakayama Sailing Center, Wakayama, Japan were the 13th Tasar World Championships, the first was in Canberra Australia in 1981, This was the third world championship hosted by the Japan Tasar Association. These worlds again set new standards for organisation and excellence. A number of people remarked that the Tasar World Championships were not EVENTS before the first Japanese World Championships in 1992. There have been three further world events that ISAF did not allow to be called world championships. These were called International Championships. JTA have set us a big task to match their achievement when the United Kingdom Tasar Association host the Tasar World Championships in 2011 at the Royal Torbay Yacht Club in Torquay., Devon.

I missed the first day of the event as I was working in the Chez Republic so when I arrived everyone else was there and working on their Tasars or getting them measured before completing registering. The Wakayama sailing center is quite a sight, with aircraft hanger sized buildings that allow a fully rigged sailing boat to be wheeled in and out of the enormous roller doors. As I dragged my sails and huge skiing bag full of rope and rigging into the compound I recognised a smiling face - Jan Slotemaker who sails with Constantijn Udo in NED 298 coming around the corner. It is great to be met in a strange place by someone you know that actual beams at you. Shortly after Mayumi Knight who sails with Tim Knight GBR 363 (Fluffy) was giving me a welcome hug and introducing me to the organisers: one of whom we all knew by name Noriko Tanaka, who had helped virtually everyone in the run up to the event, the race officials, and the contract hire manager Atsushi Inhoue. Not only was I being met by people who seemed happy to see me, one of them is Japanese and sorts out all the details so I am immediately introduced to my Tasar and working to catch up the preparations of all the rest of the fleet. A few minutes later it was clear that it was not just those who we knew well who were glad to see us but everyone there was smiling, welcoming and keen to help with any issues with the boat. The picture of Tuna’s crew is typical of the welcome we all got. the other person we should mention is Shinsuke Inoue the young interpreter who helped so much in so many ways to make the event a success. Shinsuke was originally going to crew for me for a couple of days but he was playing such a vital role the organisers found me another crew.

Whist we were all getting ready and under going the scrutiny of the measurer we were being battered by the wind from a typhoon in the area. There was one brave couple AUS 170 in the harbour trying to launch, some were saying they must have a lot of new sails with them as going out in the wind as it was would add ten years of wear immediately. It was very difficult even to stand up or to move around. Putting the mast up, to tune to boat was a exercise in risk avoidance for everyone around you. As soon as the mast was up the helpers were there - it is one of the fantastic things about the Tasar Class how much everyone helps everyone else. Tim Knight came over, even though he was working on his own contract Tasar, to help me sort out mine. He is very generous with his time and knowledge. Tim is very skilled and knowledgeable about the Tasar. he also has good local knowledge of the boats and fittings used because his wife Mayumi is Japanese and they have sailed here several times.

By lunch time my Tasar was ready to be measured and the process started - the hull and fittings were weighed, (71 kg three kg over weight) the sails were checked for makers serial numbers, the battens were checked to see if they were original, rudder, dagger board and whisker pole measured and stamped with the regatta official stamp, By Three o’clock we were registered and ready to race. My first crew arrived Kenichiro Nishio and we started to get ready for the practice race. I was very lucky George Motoyoshi, the JTA president and Tasar World Council president had found me 2 crew for the whole regatta and Kenichiro sails with George so I had a great crew for the start of the event. Kenichiro would crew with me for the practice race and day one of the worlds and then Kazsuki Izumi would crew for the rest of the worlds. Kazsuki has sailed for several years was 3rd in the Japanese Topper championships and is now an expert Laser sailer. Kazsuki had practiced with the Tasar National champion in preparation for the the event. Kazsuki was a great crew and is a much better sailor than me.

The day of the practice race came and the wind had not reduced at all - but most went out even though they risked damaging the boats and the sails. We in fact got our best result of the whole week 49th. in the practice race.

Day 1 of the worlds was full on and we completed 2 races. A big challenge was getting a good start there were 8 general recalls in race 1! The wave pattern was also a little difficult as it was very choppy and the waves were coming from several different directions, as those coming in to the bay were bouncing off the islands and the U shaped shoreline. At the end of the race we were all shattered and when Kenichiro and I met up with Tim and Mayumi everyone was hugging and saying they could not have done another race. Shortly after we were all back at the hotel naked in the hot baths. These were new to many, so once we were instructed in the ritual by either Tim or one of the japanese most competitors partook of a bath every day. I guess the only disappointment was that these are not mixed baths.

Day 2 and the wind was much lighter and we soon heard the triple horn and saw the postponement flag. I met my new crew Kazsuki, not a great start as I had to take her to the the repair center, as when Kenichiro and I had rolled the boat in the last race of day 1, just before the end of the run, another competitor had come over the top of us slicing the Dagger board and splitting the hull, The boat was still being finished off by the owner of Performance Sailcraft Japan who had been working all night on several boats that needed repairs. The postponement was very timely, as Kazsuki and I helped with the warm air dryer and scrapper to finish the repair. About an hour later the boat was back in its place and Kazsuki went to work immediately rigging and tuning the boat. Her work rate was phenomenal. We got the mast up rigged and were able to join the fleet as they waited afloat for the start of the days racing. Soon after we started the sea breeze came in and we had a good wind but as Kazsuki said the conditions were those that most could sail well in.

The start was a big problem again and there were four recalls even though after the first the Race Officer Ross Chisholm started to use the flag with a black dot in the yellow background and then finally the complete black flag to try and create some control over the early starters. I think six were black flagged on the information board when we all responded and paraded past the start boat to read the black flagged list, after Ross flew the black and yellow checked, we have information for you, flag. The first race was OK everyone got a good race in, but for those at the back of the fleet in race two when the wind dropped, it was a slow drift until they were timed out. We had an exciting end as the international jury boat threw us a rope and we roared back into the harbour much to the disgruntlement of fellow sailors making their way back under their own very limited wind power. It was a good thing that this Wakayama sea has virtually no tide or they would never have got back.

Day 3 was 3 races and started again with a postponement because of light winds, A couple of hours later though we were off and the sea breeze rapidly built so we had a much more challenging and exciting race. Only again after several general recalls. There were in effect three races going on, Up at the front there were ten clear leaders, Tim and Mayumi were first to the first mark but eventually dropped back to the front of the 2nd group. There was a big 2nd group all very close together and possibly this is what lead to so many protest every day. Lots of people were contesting the same space at the start and the marks. Then at the back where shame facially I sent the whole week there were ten trying not to get the honour of being last.

Day 3 ended with a BBQ and entertainment in the Wakayama sailing center grounds. Too much beer, but a great evening, with a speech from the oldest sailor (83) competing in the 2009 worlds, the first Japanese national champion; a traditional japanese drum group, which of course got Tim Knight up having a go along with several other competitors and I noticed mostly these were ladies. The food was brilliant we cooked the BBQ on our own tables and it was meat and sea food - very good and healthy.

Day 4 was a Lay day and this I think was really needed, several people were pretty bruised and tired, including me. There was an organised tour to KOYASAN which is home to an active monastic center of Esoteric Buddhism. Founded more than 1200 years ago.

Day 5 again started as did every day after day 1 with a postponement, to wait for the wind to get up. 2 races and it was the first time that the Japanese dominance was challenged and from this pint on the leading Australian boat was out in front. There is a video of the sailing on day 5 and 6 which can be obtained from JTA.

Today started off really slowly then the wind got up after a postponement we went out only to have it drop. We waited around on the water while the race officers postponed again then they hand lunch. Then the start boat started to move and like a hunting pack we all started to follow did they know where the wind was?

No, as they raced away with all of us in tow the wind hit us with a blast and we were back to the original start position. With winds similar to Monday not quite as high but very hard for us old worn outs. We were off no recalls although two got disqualified for being over the line again. Tim and Mayumi got their best result Tijn and Jan did OK but sustained damage to their boat and Kazuski and I had our best sail yet, good starts, thanks Duncan and Tim advice. But the real driver was Kazsuki, she is a hard woman for someone 5' 5' tall and 52 kg - hike more, hike more, she cries as we are blasting past the back pack. I was really pleased she enjoyed herself more I have been feeling really bad about lander her with me as a helm. We finished 63 and 60 in the two races.

Then we were back in to find the main sail craft man waiting saying he wanted our boat back to do some more work on it, he said he thought he could make it go faster.

Day 6 It was a not so good day for the Europeans today. Tim was OCS in race one and both Tim and Tijn were black fagged in race two. Kazsuki and I did not do that well, I made every error one could think of.

On the good side our starts were better and our finishing positions were better that early on. On the bad side the people behind us at the end of the race were not those behind us in the overall standings.

Great weather again but the day started with a postponement which was good because our boat was in the shop for go fast treatment and we needed to rig everything and bad in that when we did get out there was not a lot of wind. Then again the wind came up and we had the best start ever unfortunately 95% of the fleet were over the line (and us) and there was a general recall. After three goes we got away but I decided to move into clear air as we were not moving freely. I think this was a mistake as Kazsuki did not talk to me again throughout the race! It did also take us from 2nd off the line to last at the first mark which might explain her disappointment.

Course one is punishing, triangle, sausage, triangle and one leg to windward to finish. I had been up late competing my speech for Sunday prize giving and having had to rig everything, having raced more than ever before, I was tired. I could not tack smoothly, reach or run it was a disaster yet we finished 68th with 10 boats coming in behind us over the line.

The 2nd race was a completely different affair. The sea breeze! came in and the down haul was on and Tim's heavy weather sailing tactic installed. Three general recalls, eleven black flagged boats and we were off. Great start and I did it again 10 th to last in one tack - suicide has got to be the answer. But we battled on largely in stoney silence, but we worked well together and we made up ground and on the last run we overtook 20 boats only to have a mad Australian park his boat next to us on the run just before the mark and block us and 15 boats on my inside who rightly hand water and in the brilliant maneuver let 15 boats overtake us and him on the outside! We finished at the next mark 62nd. What might have been, gone. Then there was only one day and one race left and all I could think of was performing my speech as well as I had been sailing! But I was still looking forward to it, all the trial runs have got rave revues - we had a hit promotion, if I did not snatch defeat out of potential glory.

Day 7 ended with the race officers and rescue boats parading through the harbour horns blaring whilst the competitors lined the banks clapping and cheering. A very nice ending.

The day started hot, still and tense, it did not look like we would get a sail. After about an hour we were told we could get onto the water and there was a good breeze a bit light but it gave us a chance to finish off in the right fashion. It was a good final race that for once got off with no general recall. It was a light wind and the leaders were all close to or minimum weight crews. Further down the field competition was still strong no one wanted to be last and the boats were all close together around the marks. There were not as far as I remember any shouts of protest and no protest meeting after the racing.

Day 7 ended with the a Gala closing ceremony. One very special feature was the sushi chef display of mastery over a whole Tuna, which was soon on our tables as ultra fresh sushi. After the food and drink we were treated to renditions and entertainment from three of the nations competing. Shelly Macy from the North American Tasar Association gave recital in Japanese which got great cheers from the hosts, the Australians all got up on stage sailors and supporters and sang a song written for the event including lines with the words Wakayama and Tasar in. Again to great cheers form the rest present. Finally one of the Japanese competitors went up and played waltzing Matilda on the accordion with the Australians coming on stage again to sing along.

After this the awards were made and we were given oscar style speeches form the winners thanking their families sponsors and supporters. This I have to admit I did not expect - but we were after all at a world championships and these are the best sailors in the world, they have achieved something really significant and are at the top of the world in terms of sailing and racing skill.

As the event came to a close we introduced the next worlds with our promotional film which seemed to go down well even though the hotels sound man kept turning the sound off when he thought it was ending, 65 of the competitors signed up to say they were very interested in coming and competing in Torbay in 2011 so we must have done something right. The event was finally closed by Taro Yamamura as George Motoyoshi had unavoidably been unable to attend the event.

I think as everyone said good bye in the lobby of the hotel that there were many very sad that it was over. I for one will remember my first ever world event for a long time, mostly for the warmth of the welcome, the camaraderie of fellow sailors, and for of course for the sailing.

More information and overall results on the event website.