Key reasons for a single supplier

Why do some one design classes thrive while others fade? There are several variables at work, but none of it matters without a reliable supply of equipment. The Sunfish Class, strong by many measures, had a supplier that held the sole rights, but wasn’t providing supply.

Frustrated, the organization opted to go another direction. Unable to secure a new source for Sunfish equipment, the Class changed the name to ISCA and contracted with Zim Sailing to build boats and equipment that meets the racing regulations.

This was a similar situation as the Laser, now ILCA, found themselves in, though to continue as Olympic equipment, ILCA had to offer build rights around the world. The Sunfish chose not to do that, and explains in this report why:

After careful consideration, we decided to have a single class-legal builder for several key reasons:

• Lower boat prices: Our boat is not a high-volume boat – currently a few hundred are made annually. Contrary to what you might expect, spreading production across multiple builders would increase the boat price since each builder would sell fewer boats to help distribute their fixed expenses (this has already happened with the ILCA – formerly Laser – class).

• Stronger class support: We want a builder strongly committed to promoting and growing the class. If multiple builders were competing, builder A could spend money to promote the class but sailors might end up buying boats from builder B. With the possibility that a builder’s promotional investment might end up benefiting a competitor, there will be little incentive to support or advertise the class.

• Builder management: ISCA is a volunteer-led organization. Overseeing multiple builders to ensure quality and building to ISCA and one-design standards would require significant resources (ILCA has a paid staff for this purpose.) We want to remain a volunteer organization to keep the class and boat affordable.

Ultimately, our goal is to ensure the long-term vigor and growth of the class by providing Zim with a stable, profitable foundation to invest in the class.