2010 Nationals 2011 Worlds Entry

We have been marketing this years Nationals and next years worlds, I understand, in a different way to previous years. As a result we have a record number of confirmed early entries. At the time of writing, we have 23 confirmed entries to the 2011 Tasar Worlds from six countries and 21 confirmed entries to the 2010 Tasar Nationals. We have the reigning world champions Rob and Nicole Douglass signed up and looking forward to racing here in 2011. In the nationals we have the back to back UK Champions Malcolm and Fiona Davies signed up and looking forward to a home event. Financially, we are in a stronger position than we have been for many years to stage such events and to manage the association.

A couple of members do not like the approach we are taking to market and encourage early entry to the events. They say they don't see why it can't be the same as before. The recent exchanges made me think about the role of the chairman and the committee and about preparing for the AGM. Therefore, I thought this might be a good time to open up discussion about the association, the role of the committee and the chairman. We can use any input to help prepare for the AGM. Some of you might want to be on the committee and judging by the recent emails challenge me to be Chairman - has there ever been a challenge?

I believe the chairman should try to change things (improve things) and that means doing things differently. Doing the same thing and expecting improvement is madness as one great person once said.

For me there is only one goal for the TAUK and that is the grow the Tasar Association Membership through increasing the number of crews sailing the Tasar and the quality of the sailing. Why do I say grow, because there is only one other direction; decline. No organisation ever has managed to sustain itself without growth. Why do I say improve the quality, because the boat is a one design we cannot really improve it. Therefore, to create interest we need to improve our sailing skills. It will be very interesting to have Pete and Charlotte here for the nationals as they have been training with the Australians, as they moved to live there last September. They were good before they left, how will they be against the UK champions this year? How much training have you done in preparation for the Nationals?

Change is very difficult to achieve. Not because people resist change, but because we are very bad at explaining change, people who resist are not seeing any benefits for them or the organisation. The two emails of complaint were both as loud about the risk they felt to the Nationals as they were about their own irritation with the process.

Change is also very difficult because we are very bad at critiquing what is proposed or done. We make vague complaints - I don't like it, it is confusing, or it is too complex. This at least alerts us to a problem but it does not help. The person designing a new something does not normally set out to make something too complex or confusing. Being told it is complex is only the start, they need suggestions about how to improve it. In addition they need feedback quickly. If we take the two recent emails as an example they have come almost 5 months after the system was set up.

I am sure that many of you have comments to make about the association, why don't you add them in the forum or email the committee directly. Better still use Torbay week (21 - 23 dinghies) to prepare for the Nationals and talk to the committee members there. Then come to the 2010 Nationals and tell us directly what you think, after of course you have had a great sail against some of the best sailors in the UK, Holland and Australia.

Set up your entry now and pay before 31 July. We will know who is going to be at the event, essential to plan, the safety, meals and social aspects of the event. You get a small discount on the entry fee and on your association subscription. You also gain the certainty that is needed to help and motivate preparation for the event. You will be able to enter the 2011 worlds now at a 50 discount too on the normal fee.

Dacron sails are still very welcome and they are very competitive, we may even give a prize for the best finishing Dacron sailed Tasar in this years Nationals and in next years worlds. 

Enter now (look at the documents page there is essential information on preparing your boat there). Don't forget to click the YES option to set up your entry to the 2011 Tasar Worlds in the entry form.