Rugby togs go to sea

Press, 23 April 1983, Page 17

Rugby togs go to sea

From

JOHN HUTCHISON

in San Francisco

The American west coast market for yachting clothing from New Zealand is looking good. An importer-distributor in southern California reports a good trade in Line Seven foul weather gear, and is extending his marketing into the commercial fishing industry. In northern California, an enterprising young New Zealander is developing a growing trade in Dorlon foul weather gear and rugby clothing for yachting teams and has succeeded in outfitting crews for two boats to compete in the America’s Cup. Andrew Dossett is president of Seagull Marine Co., and has his office in Irvine, south of Los Angeles. His firm imports and distributes several well-known European boating products and last year added weather-proof clothing made by Line Seven, Ltd, an Auckland firm. The products have sold well to the sports boating trade through 30 retail outlets supplied by Mr Dossett’s firm. Now, Line Seven equipment has been introduced for commercial fishing use. Seagull Marine also sells Nilsson windlasses and Kayzee head foils, both New Zea-land-made. The windlasses, used for hauling boat anchors, are outstanding in appearance and operation, Mr Dossett says. The head foils, devices for setting and changing headsails, are unique in the market there, but have not yet been established in

sales. He believes they will succeed.

Marine equipment is a field in which small New Zealand firms can compete in California, Mr Dossett adds. “We are very pleased with our New Zealand products and relationships, and would welcome contacts with other potential suppliers.” His company imports and distributes Seagull boat motors, Avon inflatable boats, and C.Q.R. anchors from Britain. In northern California, a former Rotorua policeman is building a business in the international world of yachting — selling foul weather gear and trendy clothing to worldclass sailors. Paul Bridson, 32-years-old, came to California four years ago and is carving out a spacious corner for himself with hard work and ingenuity. He sells Dorlong garments to protect yachtsmen from storm and saltwater, and he sells rugby shorts and shirts made by Lane Walker Rudkin under the Canterbury label. They are becoming the “in” thing for the crews which sail some of the most glamorous boats in ocean racing. Mr Bridson, operating from a small office in Redwood City, a San Francisco suburb, sold rugby gear worth 360,000 to North American yachtsman in 1982 — his first full year of operation. In the first

three months of this year, he says, he has already reached that same figure. “Results have been fairly outstanding,” is the way he describes the rapid growth of his trade. “I came up about six months ago with the idea of outfitting sailing teams with rugby clothing. We put together a full-colour catalogue, started advertising in national yachting magazines, and are now furnishing the gear to almost all major racing yachts,” He crossed the continent to promote Dorlon and Canterbury at the Southern Ocean Racing Conference in Florida, and sold $20,000 in clothing to be worn on important boats. He rented gear to crews of two boats, one of which, Scarlett O’Hara won the racing series. “Our clothing made quite a hit,” Mr Bridson says. “The winning crew bought the rented gear, and will take it to England to wear in the Admiral’s Cup races.” Since then, he has given two dozen outfits to the teams which will represent the United States and Canada in the America’s Cup competition in July and August. The trend is for all members of a crew to dress uniformly. Canterbury embroiders the boats’ names on the garments. Clothing-worn in such prestigious races has high visibility in yachting circles