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D-One - open sailmakers?

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yellowwelly View Drop Down
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    Posted: 04 Sep 13 at 11:36am
According to their published agenda for the forthcoming AGM, the D-One Class are potentially about to take a vote on open sailmakers for the class later this year.

Good or Bad?

Certainly interesting, as it opens up an area of usual criticism for other SMOD classes to a freer market.
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Ruscoe View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Ruscoe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 13 at 12:13pm
As i understand it, the international class are looking at all viable options around sail manufacturer.  The class are concious that we must offer the best deal for the sailors as well as sail maker suppliers.  Lets not forget we are a small but growing class (when you puit things in to context) so a single sail manufacturer does not get the economy of scale benefits from cupplying a small class with sails, which to be honest dont seem to wear out!  There is going to be a conversation and whilst there may be a vote, i suspect there is a little more work to be done before anything is voted on.  Especially around a major vote like that. 
 
For me i think the open sail rule has some merit, if the sails are all exactly the same other than the sail maker then it opens the class up to some kind of market forces, but also it creates a bit of a niche.  Being the only 'Modern class' with open sail maker status.  However i also very much like the idea of a single sail manufacturer.  So i sit on the fence, but then I guess i have to. 

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Ruscoe View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Ruscoe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 13 at 12:14pm
PS Jimbo, you knew that post would pull me out of hibernation didnt you Wink

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yellowwelly View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote yellowwelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 13 at 12:21pm
yep- but one worth posting, I see it as positive personally, but there will be differing views on this.  

It's certainly the best way to deal with the 'replica' issue.  As long as sails measure, then it's good that some sailmakers can/will focus their balance more towards longevity/value for money than performance.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote gbr940 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 13 at 12:31pm
Spent a fair amount of time looking at the demo boat the other day at our sailing club and my only question was the sailmaker - personally coming from a one-design class but with an open sailmaker it opens up both ends of the market rather and removes that stupid argument about "copies" or "replicas". It won't affect the class and will probably draw more in because you can go source your own sails.

The D-One is a great looking boat and if I was allowed one I would definitely have one (although the Finn sailor in me is saying no wings!), might be a struggle but would be great to convert some of the Vareo sailors at our club to the D-One.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Ruscoe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 13 at 1:06pm
Got to be honest James, i have keep away from anything political.  I am not a member of the class committee nor have the desire to be.  I take guidance from them and am happy to deliver what ever message both the class and Suntouched decide upon.  Thats not to say that i will not disagree or have different view points around how things are done, if i agree with it.  Rodney and I have had countless 'Debates' over the years, its healthy to challenge people and thats how we like it.  However i am only the Demo Donkey.
 
As for Replicas, we have not had an issue to date (that i am aware of) there have been some question marks around sail pricing and this has led to where we are today.  I think it will be interesting.  I actually dont really care if I am being honest.  I can see the benefts of both.  But the open maker with regards to sails seems like it could be another USP, given no other class in what (20 years??) has gone down this route.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Ruscoe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 13 at 1:07pm
Originally posted by gbr940

Spent a fair amount of time looking at the demo boat the other day at our sailing club and my only question was the sailmaker - personally coming from a one-design class but with an open sailmaker it opens up both ends of the market rather and removes that stupid argument about "copies" or "replicas". It won't affect the class and will probably draw more in because you can go source your own sails.

The D-One is a great looking boat and if I was allowed one I would definitely have one (although the Finn sailor in me is saying no wings!), might be a struggle but would be great to convert some of the Vareo sailors at our club to the D-One.
Which club mate?

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Post Options Post Options   Quote yellowwelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 13 at 1:26pm
the other bonus is that if you do pass this, then you could open up the overall class promotion with more industry folks selling the concept of the boat.

Surely it makes more sense to have three or four respectable lofts all working to the same rule set, all saying their's are the best, all talking about the class on their websites, email shots, facebook pages etc than it has to have those four same lofts actively disinterested in a class which only supports their specific industry segment through nasty imports from the far east.... arguably designed with a short lifecycle as part of the overall business model if we look at the most popular?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Ruscoe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 13 at 1:52pm
Originally posted by yellowwelly

the other bonus is that if you do pass this, then you could open up the overall class promotion with more industry folks selling the concept of the boat.

Surely it makes more sense to have three or four respectable lofts all working to the same rule set, all saying their's are the best, all talking about the class on their websites, email shots, facebook pages etc than it has to have those four same lofts actively disinterested in a class which only supports their specific industry segment through nasty imports from the far east.... arguably designed with a short lifecycle as part of the overall business model if we look at the most popular?
For me thats the big win, the competitiveness should drive down price and increase quality (not that we have a qquality issue with the North product) but it also engages the boat with a bigger audiance.  Remember that the biggest classes such as the Phantom, Solo, Ent, GP, etc.etc. have open sail maker rules.  Arguably the SMOD model limits the product life cycle other than in some large excpetions (Laser, 200 etc.) 
 
But like I say, I am not fussed.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 13 at 2:04pm
Originally posted by Ruscoe

the competitiveness should drive down price and increase quality

Why do you think it should do that? I know there's a mantra in some sections of the public that competition must drive down prices, but in all forms of competitive sport I've had experience of the opposite seems true, because people are always prepared to pay for more performance, and few people are prepared to buy slow but cheap.
In a true dual purpose class the sailors who don't race may well buy slow but cheap of course, but am not sure the D-one comes into that category.
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