Are High mod masts the next step and what are the advantages and disadvantages of using them

At this point we dont know. The boat will be back in a few weeks I would say. The builders know about the failure.

As it was a developement mast I guess these are the risks we take.Just so you know this development is totally undertaken  financially and time wise by Norman (and myself), we do not ask for assistance from builder.We had tested it for a few weeks in Sydney in various conditions then it was shipped by courier to Croatia.See the photos on www. sail- world,. 

We know that our "Balaton Mast" is very competitive (used at Balaton, St Petes and Croatia with good results) how ever with all racing we look for little improvements in both performance and weight.If we had to do a world title tomorrow we know that our race set up is competitive.

The HUN 70 mast failed at the spreaders in croatia in very very light wind, that would concern me  more I think!

 

was the Hungarians' mast a Proctor-Seldon?

 

Ok so an up-date

 We have since had the CST fixed (sleeved at the break). We have been out in 30knots massive swells , swam hard, launched off massive waves off shore, stuck the nose in and have not been able to break the mast.It is a strong.Is competitive against the Euros and other masts? that  is a different matter.

 It would seem that the mast may have suffered damage in transit to Croatia ( as they lift things with fork lifts etc) so at some point it could have been damaged

We have been testing the high mod masts for a while now. Did the Nationals with a high mod mast a few weeks ago.

We will still do a little bit of testing in New Zealand before worlds and make some more decissions then as to how we think the new mast is going.

But at the end of the day, lighter, less windage, and stronger,reliable, is every ones goal.Its a matter of finding that balance.