The RS400 Rumours thread.

Originally posted by jonopank My perspective on the SMOD classes is that they are locked in time (and the fashion of that time) - and that's a bit of an issue...

I thought it was exactly the point of the exercise...

I submit that B14 sales figures are not such that there should be a mad panic on the part of every SMOD class to follow their particular direction rather than any other...

Nick, well done for coming out and putting the case for the defence!

I have to say that you are in danger of missing the boat here though. When the RS400 was all new and shiny, your main
selling point was the great open circuit. You could control this quite rigorously, so you knew you'd get the CA fees
and the sail sales from all who wanted to take part.

Now the game has moved on. There's a load of old RS400s at low-low prices all over the boatparks. They mostly won't be
going to open meetings, they see no benefit from CA membership, and when your boat costs £2K there's no way you'll pay
£1500 for a suit of sails. So they'll do handicap racing and they'll buy Rooster sails or secondhand stuff wherever
possible.

Personally I think that's great, not because I hate SMOD manufacturers as you suggest, but because a load of people
with limited budgets will enjoy racing the RS400 who wouldn't otherwise have done so (I've got a 300 and it works for
me). And if that keeps the boats active then you will benefit by association, albeit it might take a while for the
effects to be noticed.

Anyway, unless you start looking a bit more attractive in terms of price, these punters will go elsewhere for their
sails and other parts and you will lose them completely. Far better (I think) to compromise and sell something than
stand your ground and sell nothing. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Sell a cheaper sail or surrender the aftermarket
to Rooster.

RE:>> the RS400 looks quite a lot dearer than the RS200 but not much cheaper than an RS800, which you have to admit is a lot more boat?

 

I would NEVER consider the 800 to be a "lot more boat" than the 400.

More "thrills" (unless you like close quarter racing), maybe. More speed, yes. But NOT more boat.

It is also more boat than a Merlin, despite being 50% cheaper at almost all boat ages from brand new to 10 yrs old.

 

 

Originally posted by oldarn Originally posted by jonopank and before anyone comments..... - yep - i hate buying the same old firefly sails - although at <£500 a set it's not so tough... i couldn't get a 4000 kite for that!  Jono, why do you hate buying the same old Firefly sails? Didn't they help you win the Firefly champs. a few years ago. and this is a strong thriving class with sails almost identical to the original design from more than 60 years ago and with only one change, from cotton to terylene. Surely it's not the looks but the quality of the racing and the class. Cosmetic changes won't save a class but retaining a strict one design regime should!

Can't say I like spending the money, but I love buying new Firefly sails - but then I only buy them every 10 to 12 years, whether I need them or not...And buying them so infrequently, you can see the changes that have been made, even to strict one design sails. The cut and cloth are certainly streets ahead of the Ratsey sails of 30 years ago, and even the Musto and Hyde sails of just after that. Seems to me that the 400 could easily subtly improve their sails over time, where the new sail is using technological improvements while keeping the same plan. Sails are best when new anyway, so the top guys will all be buying new - why now tweak?

In summary of  key concepts for the defence of the SMOD:

Scenario 1: Active class associstion providing events, training, maintaining and upholding class rules. Supportive manufacturer promoting class at home and internationally, supporting Class Association, providing boats of equal performance,"keep you on the water", spares, accessories to one-design spec, repairs, advice, after-sales. Class and manufacturer work together to solve any problems as equal stakeholders. Net effect increased demand, boat values, owner enjoyment, benefit to club and sport in general.

Scenario 2: Draycote (or wherever) XXX SMOD class goes wild - replica sails, outside class rules, no restriction - hey next week sailor X might just commission a bigger kite, or put wings on: Class Association in uproar, chaos ensues,class association disintegrates. Manufacturer suffers reduced demand, does other stuff, no need to stock the spares, moves on. Owners sail and own a boat with no class, no rules, is not promoted anywhere and spares are not really available...net effect values crash, disallusioned owners, maybe lost to the club and the sport (well this doesn't happen at the Golf Club!)

OK, bit over the top, but you get the picture: Replica sails are the thin end of the wedge. Where does rule-breaking stop? Your Class Association represents the owners, safeguards the rules, standards, manufacturer liason, improves the ownership experience, sh values, and is the key stakeholder in the class' future. Why would you buy a one-design, shun what it stands for and then get stuck into trashing its value?  

Class standard sails are available second-hand - I am sure you could buy a RS400 for £4-5k, progress in the class, hit the top ten at the Nationals without ever having to buy a new sail. They last really well and you know they are the same design as the rich guy down the dinghy park. that of course is what the SMOD is all about...

Nick.