TASAR NEWS...
Tasar Mylar Sails have arrived (April 28th) We have just taken delivery of three boxes of mylar jibs, mainsails and battens. If you are thinking about changing your sails from dacron to mylar, we also supply a jib rigging kit to help you get set up. Give me your sail number and I will put these on for you too. This weekend, we are going to Oxford for the Tasar Inlands via Whitstable so can easily deliver to one of these venues.
Tasar Demonstrator at Datchet this weekend... (April 24th) This Saturday, Signal Locker will have a Tasar demonstrator at the Datchet On-The-Water show. the weather looks very promising - so if you know any potential Tasar sailors, please send them along. The show is open from 10 till 4 on Saturday April 24th.
RCB track retro-fit kit... (March 25th) It is with some trepidation that we bring to your attention the Signal Locker RCB track retro-fit kit. The kit price is £426.47, though TAUK members will get a discount on the standard Ronstan fittings included, bringing the price down to.....£398 plus postage and packing. The instructions on how to fit the tracks, and a description of the contents of the kit can be downloaded from the Tasar Technical page; or by clicking HERE. We hope that even if you don't fit RCB tracks to your boat, you will enjoy reading all about fitting them... 'These instructions are better than my Sunday paper' according to one loyal Tasar sailor.
Ronstan / Harken Discount for TAUK members... (March 12th) The Tasar class is seeing a resurgence of interest in clubs across the UK, largely thanks to the work of an increasingly effective Class Association. To support the work of your committee, Signal Locker are pleased to offer a 10% discount on all Ronstan and Harken equipment to full members of TAUK, the aim being to persuade more sailors to join the association. Our pricelist shows the retail price of the blocks, tracks, mainsheet swivels, and shackles commonly used on the Tasar: these items will usually be supplied from stock. If the fitting you want is not on our pricelist, please call or e-mail for discounted price and availability. To take advantage of this offer, you need to be a paid-up member of TAUK. Joining could hardly be simpler - just follow this link to the class website: http://www.tasar.org.uk/tam/
2010 New Boat Prices Published... (March 1st ) The 2010 price lists for masts, sails and spare parts and new boats is now published. Please hit the menu buttons on the left. If you are thinking about a new boat for next season we suggest that you check out the newly introduced Factory Order Discount...
SHARKY GOES TO FED WEEK... (Aug 3rd 09) The Signal Locker Tasar demonstrator has had a busy season. Having spent the last two weeks at Datchet SC, Sharky is off to the seaside this weekend.... From Saturday the 8th August she will be available for trial sails at Hayling Island SC, and she'll be there throughout Fed week. This year, Chichester Harbour Fed Week runs from August 10th - 14th; it is one of the most popular dinghy regatta weeks of the season, attracting more than 400 entries. Rod and Maureen Porteous are kindly acting as Sharky's hosts, and she is very much looking forward to staying with them. If you, or someone you know, would like to sail a Tasar from Hayling this month please call Rod, who will be in charge of Sharky's social diary on: 07785 590402 Or e-mail Mandy at Signal Locker Here
LATEST ON TASAR TECHNICAL PAGE... (June 22nd '09) Slowly slowly we are building up our Tasar technical file. The latest addition is a drawing showing the position of the fittings on a Tasar Mast. In fact there are three drawings: Top Mast, Lower Mast and a Key Dimensions drawing showing forestay length and hounds height. If this is the sort of thing you like to study on long summer evenings please follow this link: Tasar Mast Dimensions. The next thing we are working on for the Tech File is a set of photographs that illustrate how the control lines are rigged (cunningham, kicker, outhaul, mainsheet, traveller, jib sheet and shroud pull-backs). Of course, everyone has their way of doing things, so we are simply going to illustrate how a new boat is rigged. If there is anything you would like to see on the technical Pages, please let us know and we'll do what we can: Tasar Technical Feedback
TASAR BROCHURES AVAILABLE... (June 7th '09)
This is the time of year when sailing clubs hold open days and try-a-boat events. If you have something similar at your club, why not have some Tasar brochures on hand for potential new comers to our class? We have printed a new brochure this year and we would be only too pleased to send you some if you can make use of them. just drop me a line: Brochure request
DAGGERBOARD PACKING KIT Mk.11.2 (May 5th '09)
The Tasar daggerboard is a loose fit in the centrecase. To make it stay at the height you want, you will need to make it a tighter fit by packing the sides of the box. In addition to that, the leading edge of the board will be damaged by the front of the box unless you pack that too - and also the board will continually rotate aft unless you fill the large void behind the trailing edge. The Daggerboard Packing Kit includes the materials you need to do all these things and to make sure your board stays happy and healthy.
Those familiar with our Mk.10 kit will know that it took ages to install and involved getting covered in glue. We have tried to solve those problems with the Mk.11; it features adjustable thickness of packing to suit different boats, and costs less. The left hand photo below shows the contents of the new kit; if you click on the image you'll see what is included, and if you click on this link you can download the new DPK instructions that explain what we propose you do with the various components.
MACHINED MAST PIN-PLATE (April 30th '09)
We have made some changes to the way the mast pin plate is made: a couple of improvements over the previous version. Firstly we found that the heads of the 4 fastening screws could wear a slot in the bottom of the mast heel casting, so we now use countersunk screws and the pin plate thickness has been increased to allow for this. We hope that the increased thickness will also avoid the possibility of the base plate bending. The pin itself is no longer a separate pin welded to a plate; both the pin and plate are now machined from a solid stainless bar. We have only known of one 8mm pin to break off the plate, but we hope that problem is now even less likely to occur. We have two hole spacings in stock: 34mm and 31.5mm; these are typical UK and Australian spacings respectively and match the new Tacktick bracket introduced last month.
Tasar Demonstrator at Datchet On-The-Water Show...
Great weather helped make this event a really good showcase for the Tasar. Amongst the trapeze wires, spinnaker chutes, asymetric poles, racks and all the other paraphernalia that just about every other class needs, the Tasar sailed like a dream in 15 knots and on the flat water of Datchet reservoir. A number of sailors came specially to try out the Tasar and we have high hopes that they all left as converts.
Since the Dinghy Show, our demonstrator, Sharky, has been on duty at Stewartby SC and now at Datchet. Experienced sailors respond to simple, light, fast boats. Good sailors at your club will know a good boat when they see and sail one - so why not borrow our demonstrator and build your fleet?
If you can put Sharky to good use at your club, just call me on 01590 678699 or click here to send me an e-mail:- Calling Sharky
Tasar Tacktick Bracket...
Now available from Signal Locker are custom-made brackets for a Tacktick TO60 Microcompass. We have often been asked how best to fit a Tacktick compass on a Tasar - and this is the best solution we have seen to date. We saw it on Constantin Udo's boat, and have now copied it shamelessly....
New Tasar Brochure...
This year we plan to complete two new Tasar brochures - the first is a short introduction to the Tasar dinghy, and has been put together in conjunction with the Australian Tasar Association. Their version was released late last year, our's is now ready and will be going to print in time for the London Dinghy Show. You can download the pdf by clicking this link...
UK Tasar Brochure (I hope you like it....)
The second brochure will be an E-brochure; it will be more technical and, hopefully, more informative. We are starting to work on it now and hope to have it on-line by about May or June. if you have any photos of Tasars being sailed at speed, or that demonstrate a particular quality of the boat, or just show Tasar sailors at play (!) we'd like the chance to include them in the E-brochure photo gallery.
Tasar Renovation Scheme...
There are hundreds of Tasar hulls lying unused in dinghy parks and garages all over the UK and Europe (particularly Sweden, Italy, and Holland we believe). Many of these will be 20 years old or more, and most of them will be potentially very competitive Tasars. Of all the classes we know, the Tasar has the longest competitive life, and we are keen to see some of these old boats back on the water.
We’d love to hear from you if you are planning to bring an old Tasar back to life, and we have put together a 'Tasar Re-Habilitation Scheme’ to encourage you! Please hit the new menu item on the left hand margin of the website for details…..
Sail, Power & Watersports Show
Signal Locker will have a Tasar at the show this year - along with the Indoor Sailing Simulator. As you can see the simulator cockpit is modelled on the Tasar - not surprising since Frank Bethwaite was part of the simulator's design team.
Lightweight Top Cover...
In addition to our normal Banks covers we now have alternative mast-up top covers that are lighter weight and significantly cheaper. The new covers are from Neil Pryde and feature zips at foredeck and shrouds and a batten under the halyard hoist to help prevent 'pooling'. The material is grey and the cover packs away into an integral bag. These are definitely lighter weight than the Banks version, and we think they are ideal for those Tasar sailors who sail for 8 months per year and whose boats are stored at home upside down for the winter. One of the Signal Locker demonstrators is about to get a new Pryde cover, so we will find out first hand how they compare. The price is £113, and they are available now. Alternatively you could attend the Nationals and win one! Or you could buy a new Tasar from Signal Locker and we will give you a new cover free of charge...
March Tasar News...
If you were at the Dinghy Show you may have already picked up a paper copy, and if you are on our newsletter circulation list, there should be a copy in your inbox. If neither of these apply, you can download this month's Tasar News here:-Tasar News March 08
Technical Section Update...The first of a number of Tasar Technical Files is now posted on the website. If you hit the Tasar Technical button on the left you will open a page with a list of technical files. At the moment we have just posted the first, which describes all the components that make up a Tasar mast and has a number of photos to explain what each fitting on the pricelist looks like. For instance, and in case you are wondering, this photo is a spider's eye view of the topmast. All comments, corrections and suggestions welcome…..
Two Demonstration Tasars...The Tasar is a great boat! It's a cliche I know, but this boat really is the sailing world's best kept secret - perhaps the most underrated boat of the last 30 years. It has a strong following amongst highly experienced sailors - and we want to help you spread the 'word'. So for this season we will be making two demonstration boats available for use at open meetings demo days etc. If your goal is to increase the size of your club fleet, we want to support you as best we can. The boats will be ready for action immediately after Easter this year; in a few weeks time we will put a new page on the website which will tell you: what they look like, what equipment they have, and how you can make use of them.
Shroud Stay Talk...There has been discussion regarding proposed changes to the shroud tracks for about two years. The goal is to make it easier to move the shroud stay aft. Last year the new deck mould was made with a recess to accept a new arrangement, even though the exact specification of the track and car to be used had not been decided. The track is most likely to be 19mm Ronstan RCB track, but of course since the shrouds would be easy to slide aft, it is going to be necessary to have some cleating mechanism to stop them simply sliding forward again... at present the method for cleating the shroud stay is still to be resolved, though a couple of possibilities are on test in Australia at the moment. A description of the thinking behind the spec change can be found on the World Tasar website at: http://www.tasar.org/news/2007/stay_slide_ethos.html And an update on trials from Martyn Sly can be found at: http://www.tasar.org/news/2007/stay_slide_approval.html
Signal Locker now have the Ronstan track and car and a number of cleats: we plan to start our own trials shortly.
New spec whisker pole from Superspars...We have changed the standard specification for a Tasar whisker pole from RWO steel ends to Superspar type reinforced plastic ends, reducing by 33% the price of a new pole.
Until recently Signal Locker whisker poles have all had RWO end fittings. These have 6mm round steel pins at each end; and they are used on Tasars because they fit into the steel ‘wings’ that are sometimes used for boom stowage. However, it seems that fewer and fewer sailors are using this stowage system, with many using shock cord for the forward stowage instead. If you don’t use steel boom wings, you probably don’t need to use the RWO type end fitting, and the Supaspar version has two advantages: they are lighter and cheaper by £20.
So, if you look at the price list issued on October 1st you will see that the price of ‘Racing Spec’ whisker poles has gone down from £60.88 to £39.95. The original poles with steel pins are still available, and are still listed as optional equipment and kept in stock. Before changing to the new pole type you need to consider how you attach the pole to the jib clew as well. If you use a steel ring on the sheets there should be no problem, but if you use a bow shackle bolted to the clew board then the steel pin might be easier to attach.
Of course if it were possible to see your whisker pole when it was floating in the water, you might not need to buy a new pole so often…. And for those of you who are challenged in this regard we have had a bright yellow GRP pole on trial this summer…… yes, really. More on this later.
New Foil Bags, Now In Stock...We now have a batch of foil bags in stock! It has taken a while, but we made it in the end. And though the seach for a reasonably priced bag took so long - we are very happy with the result. The bag is made of heavy duty nylon, with a name panel on the front and a large zip pocket on the back. The pocket has mesh edges for drainage. There are separate compartments for rudder and daggerboard, each having a closing strap secured with velcro. They are of a simple and robust design; we're sure you will like them (they are also good for protecting the aft deck from the boom whilst rigging...) The price is £39.50 plus £10 post and packing - but a bag is supplied free of charge when you buy a new set of Bethwaite foils.
Tasars Go North...Signal Locker has been to the German Nationals for the last 3 years; it is one of the events we most look forward to. The setting is a beautiful lake in Northern Germany, Bad Swischenahn near Oldenberg. The fleet is small, but super-freindly. The regatta is organised by Egbert Gerlich and on the Saturday evening over dinner in the clubhouse, we found that Egbert was keen to talk to us about the Berlin Boat Show; he has the opportunity to exhibit a Tasar for the first time and was very excited about the possibilities. You may or may not know that Signal Locker, as well as being the Tasar agent run the Virtual Sailing Simulator devised and built by an Australian group that included Frank Bethwaite. Frank designed the cockpit of the simulator, and it is no surprise therefore that the side decks in particular look like a Tasar! So this month we are off to Berlin with two Tasars and the simulator - the first time that the boat and simulator have attended a show together; it will appear that the simulator was made to demonstrate the boat. Tasars go North...
Thanks for visiting our new website!It has several advantages over the old site - but the main thing is that it is far easier to update; we intend to make use of that facility and to make the site far more informative and useful. As you can see we have given it a new title and domain name: tasarsailing.com. The company name has not changed, Signal Locker Ltd. is still the parent company name, with tasarsailing.com being more descriptive of what we do. We have added a technical section; which is currently all but empty! But not for long we hope; we have a bunch of ideas for articles we think would be of assistance, to new owners in particular. We hope the site will always be a work-in-progress, and we would be grateful for any ideas and feedback you care to give us.
