Understood. This also means the factory absorbs R&D costs, correct? That may mean the net cost is the same (i.e, no factory=we pay R&D), although over the course of a sails design life we are likely to benefit significantly (couple hundred $$'s) cost wise by eliminating the middle man. I think mummp's point is more valid, I know people have fought this argument before and lost, perhaps even beaten down with an iron fist?

My question to the class is the following: if we as a class say you can use E/P sails and you can use Performance Sails, what's to stop you from buying either set? Other than Peter owns Performance and might stop you from buying, so say we bring Glaser or Landenberger on board and say these two sets of sails are class legal? Of course, this is up to the class to decide.

How often do the F18's have to buy new sails to be competitive, i.e, when do the sails themselves die (material's soft) and when do you have to upgrade simply because the new design is faster? Most racers buy a new main and jib every 2 years and a new spinnaker ever year in the N20 class, agreed? If the improved design cycle means we still buy sails at the same interval, whats the loss to the class (factory aside)?