Laser radial sail price

The reality is BOTH sailmaker(s) and boat builders have to work within a sustainable business model.  There are no orders for sails if there were no boats !  Blindingly obvious of course but sometimes it bears repeating be economic basics.

The boat developer can work under any model that sustains their business - as can in fact the sailmaker.  If the customers prefer in aggregate a single sailmaker, several licensed and approved sail makers or totally open a la carte sail supply is not really the issue.  The builder must cover the long term development and maintenance costs of hull production - and can do so under any model.  Many SMOD classes have historically worked within the 'one-single tied supplier' model and if they are more than moderately successful this can and does attract 'cut price' alternative suppliers.  If this erodes the builders ability to maintain the class, replace tooling and make a working profit then it is only sensible for them to consider a different or modified financial model.   

Freeing up sail supply partially (to permit more than one maker) in part or even totally does appear attractive to some as it can (maybe) reduce the sail cost to owners.... but this will not necessarily be the case as can be argued. 

It does not ultimately matter whether the 'owner cost' supposition is right or wrong as the builder will and has to recover some 'lost' margin on other parts and services sold.  They can reduce other expenditure on the class, not replace tooling as often, cut sponsorship and so on.  The 'zombie' danger may do more than just lurk after a few more seasons sadly - not necessarily my argument but classes don’t get dropped because they are still attractive !  (btw I've yet to see a supplier of 'training' sails successfully pick up a dropped class and run with it !!)

So OK – Lets suppose we should all go for multiple sail suppliers.  It does work for some classes and in other markets.  I know of examples myself and I'm really interested to know what a few UK sailmakers think .... .  Where (multiple) sail suppliers are prepared to formally work with builders and form sustainable (but not exclusive)  partnerships it could offer boat owners more choice.  If you want a 'full-on' sail and can afford or justify the cost that is great.  Or if you want a low cost set, but that can also carry the logo and are class legal you can do that as well.  Get the financial model right and more can be happy more of the time ...  

We have a (UK) market today where some exceptionally good sail makers are restricted into mostly supporting a few venerable  'traditional' classes (mostly from the 50's/60/s etc) for most of their sail making income.  This is not necessarily good for anyone long term.

They have very little 'fresh meat' in terms of modern lightweight classes to address and get involved with .... except on the single builder/SMOD lines.  Would 'they' fully respond if any 'new' class coming along allowed multiple sailmakers 'in' .... on a basis that looked a lot closer to the 'traditional' class model.  An 'approved list' if you like .... (For a start no class or builder seriously wants the hassle of measuring  every single sail - this would need the sail supplier(s) to warrant their products as meeting formally issued class rules).

Next can we tallk about spar suppliers .... only maybe not.  

You can't easily have it both ways .. ‘you’ choose a SMOD class because it offers reasonably priced, reasonably identical boats and coupled to this a reasonable racing circuit supported by the builder and a few suppliers who throw in real £££.  The alternative is you have a 'restricted' class, no set builder or suppliers provided the equipment measures to a set of rules - and if you are unlucky as so many were in the past - an arms race both technical and financial.   Now 'absolute advantage' within the rules is more often what is being sold and purchased.   Those with deepest pockets (and a bit of skill of course !) tend to win ... and you still have to have your kit measured and that even means often  paying a measurer (!) ... and other ‘stay-ahead’ regular expenditure.  No point in buying cheaper but slower sails now so maybe "I'll also have a couple of 3DL sails and the very latest skinny imported carbon toothpick - It is allowed and why ever not  - I work hard all week and deserve to enjoy my limited time available ... blah blah etc etc  ?"  

Now I sail and have raced on both sides of this divide - both have advantages and disadvantages.   The freeloader sail suppliers however paradoxically can benefit from the current policing of sail supply by builders at the moment. The builders argument is that without single source supply and the margins they can earn it will indirectly push up new boat prices and increase entry costs to events but if the market insists most will live with it.  Nobody else is likely to pay for replacement tooling or support  the classes involved  long term and builders have to see financial sense to carry on.  There are plenty of examples of classes being quietly ‘dropped’ by builders.  You can name a few I’m sure – very very few survive long term and prosper. ... more in fact become ‘zombie’ classes.  

So I'm asking 'what happens' if the SMOD builders were to drop full control of sail supply  ?  What are the full implications ?  I'm neither  for or against.  But there is a question that some have raised here and elsewhere over sail supply into the SMOD classes.   Is there a better way forward is what is being asked – one that permits owners to legally buy cheaper sails (or more expensive ones)  if they really want  but one that  does not load new hull prices or race organisation and £££ support .....  Builders and rights holders could work with multiple suppliers I'm sure, and they could deal directly with boat owners – but the current financial model inevitably has to change.   Anything beyond simply has to be properly sustainable for all concerned.

Course we could call just copy that model of business perfection many of the plank sailors championed so successfully in recent decades......    and they all ‘Foxtrot Oscared’ into the sunset  soon enough without realising or ever understanding why their ‘market’ really was not sustainable.  Or large.  Naive.   

The tough school of unintended consequences beckons ....  so why not look at all the implications ?