Zim Sailing and Dwyer Mast and Rigging have been acquired by Starting Line Sailing, Inc. As part of this acquisition, Zim Sailing and Dwyer Mast and Rigging will join West Coast Sailing as subsidiaries of Starting Line Sailing, a newly formed holding company led by CEO George Yioulos.
Through this new alignment, Starting Line Sailing seeks to help grow the sport by making it more accessible, improve systems and availability for parts and services, and increase opportunities to work in the industry.
Zim Sailing, founded by Steve Perry in 2008, provides one-design sailboats, parts, accessories, and services to the North American market. They manufacture popular dinghies such as the Club 420, Flying Junior, and Optimist, and engage in grassroots youth development of yacht club junior sailing programs, community sailing programs, and high school and collegiate sailing programs.
Dwyer Aluminum Masts, was founded in 1963 to more fully integrate the manufacturing of spars, rigging, and hardware with sailboat production.
Zim Sailing and Dwyer Aluminum Masts share production facilities in Bristol, Rhode Island.
West Coast Sailing, founded in 2005 in Portland, Oregon by George Yioulos, focuses on the dinghy racing and small keelboat market with an emphasis on e-commerce fulfillment and customer service. Longtime Zim dealers, they also distribute RS, Hobie, Gill, Rooster, Dynamic Dollies, Harken, Ronstan, Ovington, Zhik, and Marlow. In the past year they launched a full service rig shop to offer one design and custom rigging.
Day to day operations at all the companies will continue independently and without interruption following this acquisition. Steve Perry will stay as President of Zim Sailing and Dwyer Mast and Rigging. Chris Brown will continue his role as President of West Coast Sailing. All staff members carry on in their existing roles. Existing dealer, vendor, and class association relationships continue unchanged.
For additional information: www.startinglinesailing.com
