"Is
The Boy Crazy?"
- Richard Pryor
This
sport and industry runs on enthusiasm, passion and money, and not
always in that order. So when we hear of guys who have at least
one of the above qualities for this sport, it is often worth noting.
You can also ambition to this fella's description. We came across
this from our friends from the Antrim 27 class. Enjoy.
My
name is Mike Allison. I am President and majority owner of Renaissance
Sailboats, LLC. I believe Jim Antrim may have already sent a comment
or two to you regarding my relationship to Ultimate and my plan
to get in touch with you, so I want to follow-up and introduce myself.
Specifically, I want to provide you with background information
regarding Renaissance, our relationship to USI, and our role in
the future – and future success - of Ultimate sailboats.
I
formed Renaissance as a Utah Limited Liability Company earlier this
year for the purpose of placing highly-modified versions of at least
one Gary Mull-designed Ranger yacht – the R-23 – back
into production. From the days when I first owned a Ranger 26 in
1974 to the present (we now have a second R-26 in Bellingham, WA)
, I have always held the conviction that Rangers are truly unique
achievements in every respect, reflecting Gary Mull’s extraordinary
talent for designing great sailboats; and that they were never able
to reach their full market potential before being managed out of
existence by ineffective companies and largely ineffective marketing.
Toward
this end, in early 2004 I entered into a lengthy, thoroughly enjoyable,
and productive business dialogue with Shelley Hayse Mull, Gary’s
wife and owner of the Ranger designs. This culminated in an agreement
whereby I – and Renaissance – have exclusive marketing
and manufacturing rights to the Ranger line of boats (eight in all)
via of a license agreement I have established with Shelley.
What
does this have to do with Ultimate or the Antrim 27? Simply this:
Shelley introduced me to Jim Antrim, saying he was without the slightest
doubt the naval architect to modernize the Mull designs, given both
his considerable talent and his association with Gary and the original
boats. As I’m sure you know, Jim worked for Gary for several
years just prior to forming his own firm. Jim is well acquainted
with the basic philosophy and design assumptions underlying each
of the designs, and is eminently qualified to carry them forward
with today’s more advanced technology, materials, manufacturing
processes, design data, and, equally importantly, with his own creative
imprint.
Fortunately
for Renaissance and many future R-boat owners and sailors, Jim agreed.
As we were preparing to get Renaissance underway, Jim approached
me with another, related challenge: to incorporate Ultimate Sailboats
in the Renaissance strategy and fleet. Without the slightest hesitation,
I agreed to pursue the opportunity with Roger Menges, majority owner
of Ultimate Sailboats, Inc., and Jim Antrim, with a view toward
reaching agreement on a business deal and a market strategy that,
fully-tested, would not only support but capitalize on the concept
of merging certain Ranger designs with the U-20, the U-24, and the
Antrim 27, as well as future Antrim designs, to form an exciting,
competitive, and highly marketable line of performance sailboats
of the highest quality and value.
After
considerable discussion, we were successful on both counts. From
both business and market perspectives, we are in complete agreement
with each and every one of you that the Ultimate 20 and 24 and the
Antrim 27 need to get back in production as soon as possible so
they can fully realize their prodigious potential for many years
to come. We also intend to fully exploit at least 3 of the original
Ranger designs: the 23, 26, and 29. This will give us a fleet of
six boats, interleaved in terms of size and representing two highly
complimentary profiles (many successful designers have pursued this
strategy from both business start-up and the initial drawing board).
These are all-out-performance and rally boats, represented by Ultimate
and Ranger boats respectively.
While
"rally" is not a concept typically associated with sailboats,
it does serve one very important purpose for Renaissance; it establishes
from the outset our commitment not to introduce another "performance
cruiser" or "club racer". Like the motor sailor,
these boats somehow always end up being defined by what they don't
quite do. Rather, it is our intent, and has been from the beginning,
to introduce an unprecedented level of performance into the "R"
designs while making them capable, comfortable, seaworthy cruising
boats. If you are skeptical, we understand. Wait and see.
Because
of current demand for what appears to be a significant number of
U-20's, that will be our first priority in terms of returning designs
to production. Next will be the 24 and 27 in the order indicated
by backlog and/or perceived market demand. In parallel, Ron Moore
will begin prototyping the new R-23 as soon as equity funding, of
which a significant portion is earmarked for new mold and prototype
construction, is secured.
The
current status of Renaissance and the Ultimate re-start plan is
this: Roger Menges and I have concluded discussions regarding the
formation of Renaissance and the means by which Ultimate molds and
designs will transfer to the new Company. It is important to note
that Roger and Jim Antrim will also have an interest in the company,
and we plan to invite Shelley Hayse to to participate in the ownership
of Renaissance as well. In the meantime, and this is very important,
USI will continue on until all of its obligations, including and
especially existing orders, are fulfilled. This will be accomplished
by means of equity funding included in the financing of Renaissance
which, when secured, will ensure Ultimate sufficient cash and other
resources necessary to meet all of its obligations. At that point,
Renaissance will continue on with the Ultimate 20, licenses to the
Ultimate 24 and Antrim 27 designs, and the Ranger designs that are
selected for re-introduction.
Timing
of the U-20 restart is still not finalized, nor will it be until
financing of Renaissance is complete. I suspect the timeframe will
be somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 to 90 days, based upon several
key factors. While I can not say with certainty exactly when the
next U-20 will be launched, I can tell you that I will be certain
to keep all of you apprised of our progress as we move forward.
In the meantime, please feel free to email me either via the list,
if you feel your question and its answer have broad-based interest,
or individually at: mjallison@mindspring.com;
or give me a call at either of the numbers listed below.
I
realize this information may in some respects only scratch the surface
with respect to questions you may have or concerns you may wish
to raise. For now, however, I hope it serves to provide you a solid,
if basic, understanding of the present situation and our immediate
plans to get Ultimate underway again, and a sense for the immediate
challenges before us if we are to do these great boats and your
continuing loyalty and patience the justice they and you deserve.
Thanks
to all of you. I will be back in touch soon.
Mike
Allison
Renaissance
Sailboats, LLC
10042
N.E. Knight Road
Bainbridge
Island, WA 98110
206.780.7794
801-699-9905
cell
1/5/05
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