Hey everyone,

it's been a while, went off the widnsurfing through winter this year unfortunatley, moving house and not being able to get to my gear at all didnt help. Anyway had my first sail since last summer yesterday and it was really a bit windy for getting back into it, i tired very quickly.... just have to get out more... will post my session on GPS team challenge tonight, reckoned i only traveled a couple kays though ha ha... to cold and very rusty, unfortunate because i was pulling off gubes and all at the end of last season. Ah well will get back into the swing of things soon. Did get to try out my new 5.8 koncept finally though, god i love them, still havent tried the 5.0 though - got them at the end of last season.

Anyway, another reason for this tread is because i am once again doing an economics assignment and have chosen a windsurfing focus!!! Its really about the supply chain of items. I have broken the widnsurfing components down into a few major parts:

- the board
- the sail
- the mast
- the boom
- universal joint
- and the fin

Now pretty much the main part of the assignment is to find out where each of these parts came from, where their made etc. Looking for any information on any of the brands (because i know the will probably be different).... people to contact or anything. Any help appriciated thanks.

Cheers
Hamish

Welcome back Bubs, was great to see you and the old man yesterday! Shame you didnt make the most of the conditions, need to work on the fitness!

As far as your assignment, everything is made in either China or Thailand,

Cobra factory make most of the worlds production boards, correct me if I am wrong everyone?
As far as componentry, bases, masts and fins, they are all made in China? Just a guess.

Email one of the big brands on their information emails found on most contact pages on the windsurfing sites,

evlPanda said...

They're all made in Hawaii of course!

(Welcome back Bubs)

No I think they put the word "Hawaii" or "Maui" on the end of the brand and then have it all made in China

It would be nice in your assignment if you could account for the costs of shipment of bulk equipment from Thailand.

I would imagine that actual manufacturing, wages and marketing be fairly flat, but that shipment, distribution and R&D would vary wildly with circumstances such as recession and price of petrol.

Masts are variously made in Italy (at least one other factory besides Triana), USA (Powerex and No-Limitz), NZ (Kilwell)and Taiwan. Probably China as well but I don't specifically know of any... Used to be made in Finland by EXEL as well. Not sure if they still do...
Sails are either made in China or Sri Lanka. That would cover at least 95% anyhow.
Mast base parts and booms made in Taiwan, China and some in USA (Chinook?). Even a few in Australia? (Hydrodynamics). Probably other Asian countries as well.
Harnesses: China, Taiwan and Sri Lanka AFAIK.
Wetsuits: Thailand, China and probably some in Europe (and other Asian countries?)
Boards: About 80%? plus from Thailand?

Here is a website that has lists and locations of all the major manufacturers.
www.worldwindsurf.com/ Might help a bit!