‘Winds of Competition Buffet Area Sailmakers’

I’d like to take exception to remarks made by a fellow sailmaker in Jeff Rowe’s excellent article “Winds of Competition Buffet Area Sailmakers� (Feb. 23).

Discussing competition by Hong Kong-based sail lofts, Hood Sailmakers’ Costa Mesa sales manager Greg Nelson cites Hong Kong costs of “30-50% cheaper because of labor.�

One might get the impression that offshore producers use slave labor, When in fact they compete for skilled personnel, and pay them quite well by the pertinent standard the local labor market. Nevertheless, we wish that we could obtain the economics and advantages that Nelson attributes to our operations.

Then again, Nelson asserts that “to the average sailor, Hong Kong quality probably looks pretty good. The sail is white and has three corners.�

It is not clear from this statement whether Nelson wishes to insult “the average sailor,� or “Hong Kong sailmakers.� No doubt Hong Kong is a quarter from which effective competition came as a great surprise some years ago.

As a former employee of Hood Sailmakers, I rather doubt that Nelson’s organization has suddenly surrendered the great potential that the average sailor represents. No sailmaker ever got rich by insulting or ignoring this market.

The quality of Hong Kong-manufactured sails is no less advanced or consistent than American-made sails. The major Hong Kong sailmakers employ the same devices, computer programs, technical skills, and telecommunications as those used by the preeminent American and European producers.

The era of international free trade has only just begun. While domestic producers may have to adjust their expectations, the consumer is the ultimate beneficiary. We invite the consideration of that consumer (“average sailor� or not) who wishes to obtain fast, durable sails at reasonable cost.

STEVE ANDREWS

Stanton

Andrews is the traffic manager at Neil Pryde, U.S.A.