Sunfish Class: Light at the end of tunnel

While the strength of one design class organizations is always in the people who sail the boats, no amount of enthusiasm can sustain a class without competent suppliers. And for historically strong classes as the Laser and Sunfish, that lately has been a problem.

It’s no coincidence there’s a number of new singlehanded dinghies on the market. The Melges 14, RS Aero, and VX Evo are now gaining traction, thanks in part to how LaserPerformance, builder of the Laser and Sunfish, has not kept up with class needs.

This has been a protracted issue, but as International Sunfish Class president Laurence Mass reports, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel.

“When I was elected President in November, I told you that my first priority was to work on all of the supply issues that we, the Class, are facing with LaserPerformance (LP).

“I have spoken with both the President and Owner of LP and they have confirmed that, despite any production problems they are experiencing, they are on track to produce and deliver 72 Sunfish Class racing sailboats and North Racing Sails for the International Sunfish Class Association World Championships in Brant Beach, NJ, in August of this year.

“Lack of parts and boats are still an issue and the International Sunfish Class Association has been assured that these issues will be resolved by 2018. For the time being we will need to continue to be creative and find some other temporary solutions for parts.”

Hopefully that light at the end of the tunnel isn’t an oncoming train….