Replica Laser/Torch parts

Head above the parapet here...duck!!!

I don't wholly agree with Mark's article and many of the comments. Yes it would be much better for the club sailor (i.e. the majority). But there are implications.

The Laser phenomenon at grand-prix international level is a class which hosts very professional level events, often with builder supplied boats, with all the peripheral 'circus' that goes along with prestigious events. The money for these events has to come from somewhere. Whilst there are sponsors, I suspect that at least part of all this has to be subsidized by a margin on spare parts. The spares pricing structure is possibly a mixture of the following (taking the sail as an example):

Total cost to customer = cost of sail (ex manufacturer) + distributor margin (LPE) + dealer margin + design royalty (Kirby/Ian Bruce?) + class sail button (ILCA admin fee) + 'circuit subsidization' (?)

For replica parts the pricing structure seems to be:

Total cost to customer = cost of sail (ex manufacturer) + dealer margin

Is it any wonder the sails are so much cheaper? This is why it would seem more sensible to create a dividing line between the official parts and the replica parts, perhaps a 'Club' level with more relaxed rules on equipment and  'Grand Prix' level which is strict in the manner that has stood the class in good stead for the past decades. The very high quality circuit and business structure which has served the class well (putting recent events aside of a moment) since it's inception may well be thoroughly dependent on the pricing structure of spare parts. It would be good if someone from ILCA or PSE could confirm this, but I don't think it will happen. If opening up the sail rules completely happens, then the following might be a suggested pricing structure:

Total cost to customer = cost of sail (ex manufacturer) + dealer margin + class sail button + ILCA admin fee + 'manufacturer consistency' fee + increased ILCA membership fee (to subsidize circuit)

I really don't think it is as clear cut as many seem to think.

If this is even mildly correct, then without the official parts, the grand-prix Laser cannot survive, as the whole premise of the class is Single Manufacturer One Design (and with an International Class this entails a large network of dealers, distributors and everyone else who takes a cut, including the designer). But they could do with making the parts a wee bit better than they are - crappy parts that last only for a season (or less in the case of sails) are no way to maintain a one design whose ethos was always bang for the buck. They perhaps need to look at streamlining their business model whilst simultaneously maintaining the strict International SMOD status that the class is built on and encouraging a more relaxed 'Club' Laser package.

Still ducking...

I think Rastegar is bad news, and I don't agree with ISAF or ILCA. But I also don't think it's as clear cut as many are making out, that's all. Without transparency in pricing structures it's all going to remain conjecture, but the money to support arguably the finest Laser OD racing events needs to come from somewhere, and my basic question is if part of the inflated prices comes from the need to subsidize other areas of the class, and if this goes then does the CA need to take up the slack by increasing subscription fees? I wonder if RS have a similar pricing structure and do this subsidization thing too (although with much better quality parts)?


Edited by fdsailor - 26 Apr 13 at 10:15am

Originally posted by JimC If anyone thinks allowing multiple manufacturers would reduce the price of sails I suggest they check out the price of North Optimist rags... Competition within a class puts up prices, because fastest sells best, its only competition between classes that reduces them.

Originally posted by JimC If anyone thinks allowing multiple manufacturers would reduce the price of sails I suggest they check out the price of North Optimist rags... Competition within a class puts up prices, because fastest sells best, its only competition between classes that reduces them.

that's the beauty of the potential of Kirby working with the replica market... it would tidy up the issue so that there isn't any 'blind eye' culture.