Replacement Aluminum mast vs. going carbon

[Robert Homer]

@Chris- was that mast break recent? Did you have the high-wind kit? I have a kit installed, but curious if it can still break.

[Mike Myers (RWS)]

I talked to Keith Ziegler who is pretty sure we a have a mast at Forte - he is going to confirm (and Emily is looking at the checkbook to confirm).  He said Bayview has 12 new carbon sticks in hand and are swapping out the aluminum.  Says they needed 12 identical boats for certain regattas that the club is chasing to host.  The 11 aluminum mast will be avaliable - he is checking on the details from the club on when they will be available, cost, ect.  I am a proponent of the class grabbing those 11 masts for class members - how ever we can structure that....

I can say with 100% certainty that Forte does not have a spare rig on hand. I’d be all for the class snagging a few spares. I have half a mind to buy one myself. I like the aluminum rig, and now that I know how to keep it vertical I wouldn’t mind having another one.

[Graham Shivers]

Would the high weather gear work to stop this terrible breakage that we see from the pic above? I get the vang has to be released before turning downwind...but does the high weather gear protect against mistakes?

Graham