RS500 ...

Originally posted by les5269

   Well so what if its a Vareo on HRT - if they have got it right it will still sell and if not it will righty fade away.  Cannot understand what all the froth is about - of course its about business and what's wrong with that !  Business  delivers better design in a dynamic market (and the UK must be THE dynamic market) and it can translate the best of development into a low cost mass market product at an affordable price.  The downside is that at least half of the modern SMOD's will fail and to many they will appear poor compromises - but the better ones can prosper and bring more into competitive sailing.   If this one outlasts the PR and hype of the first 2-3 years it will LEVER its own gap in the market if its any good.  There are no real gaps out there - its about competition despite what is sometimes said and only a few minor niches could be said to exist unless you stretched the point a long long way.   After all the hardcore UK dinghy racing market is probably less than 20k people in total but the recreational market (those who sail a few times each Summer must be 20 times that at least - where would you aim your new product then?).  Those that feel threatened should work to improve their own classes appeal and not simply blame the suppliers for what comes naturally.   Remember though that the customer is always right ... in the end.
Mike L.  